How to Delete JSON File in PHP

June 14, 2020
PHP
how to delete json file in php

In this tutorial, we will create a Delete JSON File Data using PHP. This code can delete data from a JSON file when the user clicks the delete button. The system uses the PHP POST method to call a function that instantly removes data from JSON object using unset() with an argument of JSON data and the index position that will be deleted. This is a user-friendly kind of program feel free to modify it.

We will be using JSON as data management to store user data, and it will act as database storage. It is an open-standard file format that uses human-readable text to transmit data objects into the local server.

Getting Started:

First, you have to download & install XAMPP or any local server that runs PHP scripts. Here’s the link for the XAMPP server https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html.

And, this is the link for the bootstrap that I used for the layout design https://getbootstrap.com/.

Creating The Interface

This is where we will create a simple form for our application. To create a copy of the way and write it into your text editor, then save it as index.php.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
    <head>
        <meta charset="UTF-8" name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
        <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="css/bootstrap.css">
    </head>
<body>
    <nav class="navbar navbar-default">
        <div class="container-fluid">
            <a class="navbar-brand" href="https://sourcecodester.com">Sourcecodester</a>
        </div>
    </nav>
    <div class="col-md-3"></div>
    <div class="col-md-6 well">
        <h3 class="text-primary">PHP - Delete JSON File Data</h3>
        <hr style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"/>
        <div class="col-md-4">
            <form method="POST" action="insert.php">
                <div class="form-group">
                    <label>Firstname</label>
                    <input type="text" class="form-control" name="firstname" required="required"/>
                </div>
                <div class="form-group">
                    <label>Lastname</label>
                    <input type="text" class="form-control" name="lastname" required="required"/>
                </div>
                <div class="form-group">
                    <label>Address</label>
                    <input type="text" class="form-control" name="address" required="required"/>
                </div>
                <center><button class="btn btn-primary" name="insert">Insert</button></center>
            </form>
        </div>	
        <div class="col-md-8">
            <table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
                <thead class="alert-info">
                    <th>Firstname</th>
                    <th>Lastname</th>
                    <th>Address</th>
                    <th>Action</th>
                </thead>
                <tbody>
                    <?php
                        $data = file_get_contents('members.json');
                        $data = json_decode($data);
                        $index=0;
                        foreach($data as $fetch){
                    ?>
                        <tr>
                            <td><?php echo $fetch->firstname?></td>
                            <td><?php echo $fetch->lastname?></td>
                            <td><?php echo $fetch->address?></td>
                            <td><a class="btn btn-danger" href="delete.php?id=<?php echo $index?>">Delete</a></td>
                        </tr>
                    <?php
                        $index++;
                        }
                    ?>
                </tbody>
            </table>
        </div>	
    </div>
</body>
</html>

Creating the Insert Function

This code contains the insert function of the application. This code will store the inputted forms as a JSON object and save it in the JSON file. To make this just copy and write these block of codes below inside the text editor, then save it as insert.php.

<?php
    session_start();
    if(isset($_POST['insert'])){
        $data = file_get_contents('members.json');
        $json = json_decode($data);
 
        $array = array(
            'firstname' => $_POST['firstname'],
            'lastname' => $_POST['lastname'],
            'address' => $_POST['address']
        );
 
        $json[] = $array;
 
        $json = json_encode($json, JSON_PRETTY_PRINT);
        file_put_contents('members.json', $json);
        header('location:index.php');
    }
 
 
?>

Creating the Main Function

This code contains the main function of the application. This code will delete the JSON object from a JSON file when the button is clicked. To make this just copy and write these block of codes below inside the text editor, then save it as shown below.
members.json

[
    {
        "firstname": "John",
        "lastname": "Smith",
        "address": "New York"
    },
    {
        "firstname": "Claire",
        "lastname": "Temple",
        "address": "Racoon City"
    },
    {
        "firstname": "Michael",
        "lastname": "Leonard",
        "address": "Japan"
    }
]

delete.php

<?php
 
    $id = $_GET['id'];
 
    $data = file_get_contents('members.json');
    $json = json_decode($data);
 
    unset($json[$id]);
 
    $json = json_encode($json, JSON_PRETTY_PRINT);
    file_put_contents('members.json', $json);
 
    header('location: index.php');
?>

There you have it we successfully created Delete JSON File Data using PHP. I hope that this simple tutorial help you to what you are looking for. For more updates and tutorials just kindly visit this site. Enjoy Coding!

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