validation show if message - resetting the session

Just a thought.

I have a server side validation to ensure a database entry is not duplicated.

On error, my validation show if message is displayed

If I subsequently close then re-open the insert page, the validation error is still displayed, even though the form has not been submitted, as the error is stored as a session value.

I can overcome this by setting the error session value to an empty string, within the 'validation show if' block, so that the message doesn't perpetuate.

Is it not a good idea to do this by default, so the error message does not perpetuate ?

"Is it not a good idea to do this by default, so the error message does not perpetuate ?"

No necessarily, that's a bit like saying "shouldn't all cars have automatic transmissions".

I personally prefer manual, but i know many people that don't.


The errors will be cleared by 2 events:
- Submit the form successfully
- Close the browser to end the session.

if you chose, you can unset the session manually:

<?php if(isset($_SESSION['validationSession'])) unset($_SESSION['validationSession']); ?>