validation link via email

Question

When a user subscribes to my newsletter via their email address, using php, how would I send them an \'Activation Link\' via email to confirm it is their email address and n

Answer 1

Insert the user into a table with a 'pending' flag set (or a 'validated' flag not set). They should not be able to do anything until the flag is changed. If you want to be really thorough, actually put them into a users_temp table. Generate a totally random key and associate it with their user ID. The link you email to them should be http://yourwebsite.com/?activate=totallyrandomkeyigeneratedearlier. When you get an activation request, turn on the valid flag for the user with the corresponding random key.