# isset() PHP function in cgi bash scripts

**URL:** <https://community.unix.com/t/isset-php-function-in-cgi-bash-scripts/257551>\
**Category:** Shell Programming and Scripting\
**Created:** [January 14, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/isset-php-function-in-cgi-bash-scripts/257551 "2010-01-14T13:44:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GagleKas](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/gaglekas/32/5511_2.png) [@GagleKas](https://community.unix.com/u/GagleKas)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/isset-php-function-in-cgi-bash-scripts/257551/1 "2010-01-14T13:44:36Z")

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Hi!

Some minutes ago I've posted a question related with sed regexps because I need to catch information sended with forms with GET action. This is the post: [Regular expression with SED](http://www.unix.com/shell-programming-scripting/127800-regular-expression-sed.html)

But now I have a new question. Does cgi scripts have an equivalent function to PHP isset() function? If I have a form with POST action that sends information to another file there is no problem, but if I have to send it to the same file, how can I determine if it's the first time that a user visits the page?

Thanks.