PHP script to log the raw data of POST

Question

I am sending data using HTTP POST to my server. But in the server, I am not receiving the data. And somehow I don't have any way to check the data (or debug script) on client side. But on the client side I am getting HTTP 200, meaning data is sent. Also I can see the connection and data sending was successful. However, log in the server doesn't contain the data (only the number of bytes).

How can I log the raw POST data that was sent to the server?

FYI, here the client is an embedded device with very limited capability, so this is a problem. I can not check "print_r" or "echo".

unfortunately I can not see that in client side. So,it will not work. — Morison, Sep 15 '10 at 13:59
Were you able to reproduce the problem with some other client that is more potent (and able to run things like firebug ^^)? — Martin Hennings, Sep 15 '10 at 14:03
Wait - so it's a closed server (you cannot get access) you're sending data but you don't know why it's not showing? This is a black box problem - the software could be doing ANYTHING to your data including ignoring it, storing it somewhere else, encoding it, cleaning the kitchen sink with it - this isn't a PHP or MySQL question in that case. — Rudu, Sep 15 '10 at 14:03
@Rudi - I don't think that he's on a closed server. Just the problem that any debugging information can only be output to either some data storage (SQL, file, ...) or to the caller (who is unable to display that data). — Martin Hennings, Sep 15 '10 at 14:10
yeah, that's right. Thanks Martin. Sorry, I forgot to respond on Rudi's comment. — Morison, Sep 15 '10 at 15:05

score 28 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 21 '21 at 23:52

28

You can see the content of POST data inline (not for production) with:

print_r($_POST);

Or if you want to see POST, GET and COOKIE data:

print_r($_REQUEST);

If you need to log, since the client is very limited - try outputting the POST data to a file:

file_put_contents("post.log", print_r($_POST, true));

edited Oct 21 '21 at 23:52

Peter Mortensen

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answered Sep 15 '10 at 13:57

Rudu

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Thanks Rudi, I guess file_put_contents is the best thing to do. – Morison Sep 15 '10 at 14:09

score 11 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 21 '21 at 23:53

11

Write POST data to a file:

file_put_contents('/tmp/postdata.txt', var_export($_POST, true));

edited Oct 21 '21 at 23:53

Peter Mortensen

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answered Sep 15 '10 at 14:00

Sjoerd

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Although this is only acceptable for debugging. Never let anyone write anything that comes from a $_POST directly to some file in real world apps... – Martin Hennings Sep 15 '10 at 14:05
Thank you very much Sjoerd. I guess this is the best thing to do. Since Rudi replied the same before you, so I will have to select his answer :( – Morison Sep 15 '10 at 14:11
Martin, I understood. I will only use it for debugging – Morison Sep 15 '10 at 14:11
Great!You just saved my weeks of time :) – Naresh Reddy M Jan 28 '17 at 11:44

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 15 '10 at 13:56

1

You can try sniffing the HTTP session.

answered Sep 15 '10 at 13:56

Sjoerd

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PHP script to log the raw data of POST

3 Answers3

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