php - cloning form elements and the return a template file -

i building website, on click of link can clone form elements, wanting know that, when send $_post controller , check information submitted correct, how return template has enough elements errors can rectified, example original form looks this,

<fieldset class="entry"> <label for="email_address">email address</label> <input type="text" name="email_address[]" value="" class="text small"/>  <label for="firstname">firstname</label> <input type="text" name="firstname[]" value="" class="text small"/>                      <label for="surname">surname</label>                            <input type="text" name="surname[]" value="" class="text small"/> </fieldset> 

how can return correct amound of fieldsets based on $_post?

to answer this:

how can return correct amount of fieldsets based on $_post?

if each fieldset has 1 instance of each bracketed[] field name, can count how many submitted (of of fields).

$number_of_fieldsets = count((array) $this->input->post('email_address')); 

i've used $this->input->post() (since you're using ci) in case value not set (it return false), may use isset() logic instead if wish.

i've cast array here in case return value of $this->input->post('email_address') false (count return 0) or reason, string (count return 1). mild attempt @ being defensive, want handle unexpected results own methods.

once again, doesn't matter field choose count.