unset session on direct access to a function in codeigniter - codeigniter

Question

I have 2 functions in my controller that I'm sending a session using the first one to the second function. What I am talking about is:
public function search()
{
$search_term = $this->input->post('search_term');
$this->session->set_userdata('search_term', $search_term);
redirect('search_result/');
}
and the second function:
function search_result()
{
$search_term = $this->session->userdata('search_term');
$data['search_term'] = $search_term;
$this->load->view('includes/template', $data);
}
Everything is fine but, the problem is that, I want to prevent direct access to search_result() function. I mean, I want to unset search_term session when the user calls search_result() directly. What should I do?!

Answer 1

You can use flashdata: http://ellislab.com/codeigniter/user-guide/libraries/sessions.html
CodeIgniter supports "flashdata", or session data that will only be available for the next server request, and are then automatically cleared. These can be very useful, and are typically used for informational or status messages
And this is the code that do what are you looking for:
public function search()
{
$search_term = $this->input->post('search_term');
$this->session->set_flashdata('search_term', $search_term);
redirect('search_result/');
}
function search_result()
{
$search_term = $this->session->flashdata('search_term') ? $this->session->flashdata('search_term') : '';
$data['search_term'] = $search_term;
$this->load->view('includes/template', $data);
}

Answer 2

There are many ways you can do it. Here are some
append a get parameter if it exists then search else redirect back
public function search()
{
$search_term = $this->input->post('search_term');
$this->session->set_userdata('search_term', $search_term);
redirect('search_result?status=1');
}
public function search_result()
{
$status = $this->input->get('status');
if(status == 1){
$search_term = $this->session->userdata('search_term');
$data['search_term'] = $search_term;
$this->load->view('includes/template', $data);
}else{
$this->session->unset_userdata('search_term');
redirect('search');
}
}
Protect you seach_result function and dont let user direct call it.
Using _ will do it for you.
Here is the link you can read.
public function search()
{
$search_term = $this->input->post('search_term');
$this->session->set_userdata('search_term', $search_term);
$this->_search_result($search_term);
}
function _search_result($keyword)
{
if(strlen($keyword)>0){
$data['search_term'] = $keyword;
$this->load->view('includes/template', $data);
}else{
redirect('search');
}
}

Answer 3

in the search function
redirect('search_result/'.$this->session->userdata('search_term'));
in the search_result function
function search_result()
{
if($this->uri->segment(3))
{
$search_term = $this->session->userdata('search_term');
$data['search_term'] = $search_term;
$this->load->view('includes/template', $data);
}
else
{
redirect('search_result/','refresh');
}
}
hope it will help you.please let me know if you face any problem.