Cookies Management

Cookies are a very useful way to store small pieces of data on the client's machine that can be retrieved even if the user closes his/her browser. Phalcon\Http\Response\Cookies acts as a global bag for cookies. Cookies are stored in this bag during the request execution and are sent automatically at the end of the request.

Basic Usage

You can set/get cookies by just accessing the cookies service in any part of the application where services can be accessed:

<?php

use Phalcon\Mvc\Controller;

class SessionController extends Controller
{
    public function loginAction()
    {
        // Check if the cookie has previously set
        if ($this->cookies->has('remember-me')) {
            // Get the cookie
            $rememberMeCookie = $this->cookies->get('remember-me');

            // Get the cookie's value
            $value = $rememberMeCookie->getValue();
        }
    }

    public function startAction()
    {
        $this->cookies->set(
            'remember-me',
            'some value',
            time() + 15 * 86400
        );
    }

    public function logoutAction()
    {
        $rememberMeCookie = $this->cookies->get('remember-me');

        // Delete the cookie
        $rememberMeCookie->delete();
    }
}

Encryption/Decryption of Cookies

By default, cookies are automatically encrypted before being sent to the client and are decrypted when retrieved from the user. This protection prevents unauthorized users to see the cookies' contents in the client (browser). Despite this protection, sensitive data should not be stored in cookies.

You can disable encryption as follows:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Response\Cookies;

$di->set(
    'cookies',
    function () {
        $cookies = new Cookies();

        $cookies->useEncryption(false);

        return $cookies;
    }
);

If you wish to use encryption, a global key must be set in the crypt service:

    <?php

    use Phalcon\Crypt;

    $di->set(
        'crypt',
        function () {
            $crypt = new Crypt();

            $crypt->setKey('#1dj8$=dp?.ak//j1V$'); // Use your own key!

            return $crypt;
        }
    );