html - Multiple radio button array for php form

Question

I'm new to this. I'm studying web development and have to create a php response form for a questionnaire which then inputs into a database. I'm having trouble with the radio buttons. I can't create the right code that makes an array and displays the answers in the response form/page.

This is my code:

<form name="modulequestionnaire" method="post" action="tania.responseform.php" />

<p><i>Rate each question from 6 to 1, six being strongly 
agree and one being strongly disagree.</i></p>

1. I think the module guide/student handbook provided enough information about the 
module content, organisation and assessment.<br/>

6<input type="radio" name="answer[1]" value="6"> 5<input type="radio" name="answer[1]" value="5"> 
4<input type="radio" name="answer[1]" value="4"> 3<input type="radio" name="answer[1]" value="3"> 
2<input type="radio" name="answer[1]" value="2"> 1<input type="radio" name="answer[1]" value="1">
</p>

2.The module was well organised.<br/>

6<input type="radio" name="answer[2]" value="6"> 5<input type="radio" name="answer[2]" value="5"> 
4<input type="radio" name="answer[2]" value="4"> 3<input type="radio" name="answer[2]" value="3"> 
2<input type="radio" name="answer[2]" value="2"> 1<input type="radio" name="answer[2]" value="1"> 
</p>

3.The Learning Resource Centre provided adequate materials for the module.<br/>

6<input type="radio" name="answer[3]" value="6"> 5<input type="radio" name="answer[3]" value="5"> 
4<input type="radio" name="answer[3]" value="4"> 3<input type="radio" name="answer[3]" value="3"> 
2<input type="radio" name="answer[3]" value="2"> 1<input type="radio" name="answer[3]" value="1"> 
</p>

I know the answer can relate to the isset function but I don't know how to code it. Could someone possibly teach or help me out here?

Answer 1

When you're unsure of how to handle the HTML markup that you've set up, you should var_dump($_POST) the values that are sent to the PHP handler page so you know what the format will look like, that way you can proceed from there.

When I created your HTML and tested it with a var_dump and some random selections, the output was

array(2) { ["answer"]=> array(3) { [1]=> string(1) "5" [2]=> string(1) "3" [3]=> string(1) "4" } ["submit"]=> string(6) "Submit" }

Notice that there is an array within the $_POST['answer'] variable. So you should foreach over each element in that array to handle each respective value:

foreach ($_POST['answer'] as $answer) {
    // do stuff with the answer
}

If you need to work with the answer number that you defined in the POST array, you can foreach with a key:

foreach ($_POST['answer'] as $answerNum => $answer) {
    // do stuff with $answerNum and $answer
}

You can, of course, access your answer by its number directly:

if (!empty($_POST['answer'][1])) { // To ensure that the value is being sent
    // do stuff with $_POST['answer'][1]
}