Attempting to gather user's IP address with PHP

Question

I'm trying to get the user's ip address once the page loads with the following:

<?php $user_ip = $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']; ?>

and trying to print the value like so:

<input id="ip" name="ip" value="<?php $user_ip = echo ($user_ip); ?>" type="hidden">

for some reason it won't print. Any ideas?

It should be noted that anyone can change the form value if they want to. Do not expect the ip form value to be correct. — h2ooooooo
– h2ooooooo, Commented Dec 4, 2013 at 14:54
echo is a language construct. it has no return value. $foo = echo ... is utterly pointless. — Marc B
– Marc B, Commented Dec 4, 2013 at 14:58
h2o is correct. If you need the value on the server side for some reason (I'm guessing so since it's a hidden input) you should just assign it using $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']; again not get it from a POSTed form. If you're just displaying it to the user for their own benefit, why is it hidden? — Uptown Apps
– Uptown Apps, Commented Dec 4, 2013 at 14:59

kmas · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-04 14:59:36Z

6

If you assign the echo result, it will print nothing :

<input id="ip" name="ip" value="<?php echo ($user_ip); ?>" type="hidden">

If you want to display it to user :

<input id="ip" name="ip" value="<?php echo ($user_ip); ?>" type="text">

answered Dec 4, 2013 at 14:53

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7 Comments

So how should I write this php in order print the ip address?

Well you have chosen type="hidden", so it is not displayed to user on the page. If you want to display it, use type="text"

Okay, I see now but it doesn't display an IP address. It just prints the following: <?php echo ($user_ip); ?>

@J-LO whats the file extension?

Do you manage to execute php on your server ? Because it should work. Is it a .php file that you call ?

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