A Basic Method for Building Noisy Images - Defining a simple PHP script
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As I explained earlier, the approach that I plan to use here to generate a simple noisy image relies upon two basic steps. These can be summarized by the following sequence: first, I must define a PHP function that will be capable of returning a four-digit random string to client code. Then we must also use the background picture that you saw previously to achieve the final appearance of the mentioned noisy image.
So, having said that, take a look at the signature of the following PHP function. It is tasked with generating four-digit random values. Here's how this brand new function looks:
function getChallengeValue($length=4){
$chars="ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0123456789";
if(!is_int($length)||$length<1||$length>strlen($chars)){
trigger_error('Invalid length for random
string',E_USER_ERROR);
}
$rndstr='';
$maxvalue=strlen($chars)-1;
for($i=0;$i<$length;$i++){
$rndstr.=substr($chars,rand(0,$maxvalue),1);
}
return $rndstr;
}
As you can see, the above "getChallengeValue()" PHP function implements the required logic to generate, by default, the aforementioned four-digit random string. Of course, there are many ways to achieve this, so if you want to use a different algorithm to obtain random values, don't hesitate to go for it.
All right, at this point I have created a simple PHP function that generates a randomized string comprised of four uppercase characters. The question is: what's the next step we need to take to build a simple noisy image that can also be verified properly on the web server?
Well, a simple approach for displaying the noisy image in the client, while keeping its value across different pages, is to use a PHP session variable. The following script demonstrates this concept very clearly, and also includes the definition of the "getChallengeValue()" function that you learned before:
<?php
// define 'getChallengeValue()' function
function getChallengeValue($length=4){
$chars="ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0123456789";
if(!is_int($length)||$length<1||$length>strlen($chars)){
trigger_error('Invalid length for random
string',E_USER_ERROR);
}
$rndstr='';
$maxvalue=strlen($chars)-1;
for($i=0;$i<$length;$i++){
$rndstr.=substr($chars,rand(0,$maxvalue),1);
}
return $rndstr;
}
session_start();
// save challenge value to session variable
$_SESSION['challenge']=getChallengeValue();
?>
As shown above, the previous script first uses the "getChallengeValue()" function to generate the corresponding four-digit random string, and then saves this value to a "challenge" session variable, so it can be verified on the server after the contact form is submitted.
Of course, there's a missing piece in this schema. It's necessary to display the pertinent random value in front of the background pattern that was previously created. In this way we build a complete noisy image that can be included in the sample contact form.
All these tasks will be discussed in the following section, therefore click on the link that appears below and keep reading.
Next: Completing the creation of a noisy image >>
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