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Forced Decision methods for the PHP SDK

Describes the Forced Decision methods for the PHP SDK, which you can use to force users into a specific variation in Optimizely Feature Experimentation.

These methods help test and debug various flows of your client applications by forcing users into a specific variation.

The PHP SDK checks forced decisions before making any decisions. If a matching item is found for the requested flag, the PHP SDK returns the forced decision immediately (audience conditions and traffic allocations are ignored) before making normal decisions.

The PHP SDK checks for forced decisions at the start of each decision process. If a matching forced decision is found, it returns the decision immediately.

  • Flag-to-Decision – The SDK checks at the start of any decide call for the given flag.

  • Experiment-Rule-to-Decision – The SDK checks at the start of the decision for the given experiment rule of the flag key.

  • Delivery-Rule-to-Decision – The SDK checks at the start of the decision for the given delivery rule of the flag key.

❗️

Warning

You must associate your variations to a flag rule before calling any Forced Decision methods.

On forced decisions, the PHP SDK fires impression events and notifications just like other normal decisions (unless disabled by the disableDecisionEvent option).

📘

Note

These forced decisions are not persistent and are cleared when the OptimizelyUserContext is re-initialized.

For information, click the method name.

OptimizelyDecisionContext

class OptimizelyDecisionContext
{
    private $flagKey;
    private $ruleKey;

    public function __construct($flagKey, $ruleKey);

    // get flag key
    public function getFlagKey();

    // get rule key
    public function getRuleKey();
}

OptimizelyForcedDecision

class OptimizelyForcedDecision
{
    private $variationKey;

    public function __construct($variationKey);
  
  	// get variation key
    public function getVariationKey();
}

Set forced decision method - setForcedDecision()

Version

3.9.0

Description

Sets a forced decision (variationKey) for a given OptimizelyDecisionContext.

Parameters

This table lists the required and optional parameters for the PHP SDK.

Parameter

Type

Description

context required

Class

An instance of OptimizelyDecisionContext with the required flagKey and optional ruleKey for the forced decision you want to set.

decision
required

Class

An instance of OptimizelyForcedDecision with the required variationKey for the forced decision you want to set.

Returns

A boolean value that indicates if setting the forced decision (variationKey) was completed.

Example

See the complete PHP SDK example.

Get forced decision method - getForcedDecision()

Version

3.9.0

Description

Returns the forced decision (variationKey) for a given OptimizelyDecisionContext. Returns the OptimizelyForcedDecision instance or null if there is no matching item.

Parameters

This table lists the required and optional parameters for the PHP SDK.

Parameter

Type

Description

context required

Class

An instance of OptimizelyDecisionContext with the required flagKey and optional ruleKey for the forced decision you want to get.

Returns

A forced decision OptimizelyForcedDecision instance for the context or null if there is no matching item.

Example

See the complete PHP SDK example.

Remove forced decision method - removeForcedDecision()

Version

3.9.0

Description

Removes the forced decision (variationKey) for a given OptimizelyDecisionContext.

Parameters

This table lists the required and optional parameters for the PHP SDK.

Parameters

Type

Description

context required

Class

An instance of OptimizelyDecisionContext with the required flagKey and optional ruleKey for the forced decision you want to remove.

Returns

A success/failure boolean status if the forced decision (variationKey) was removed.

Example

See the complete PHP SDK example.

Remove all forced decisions method - removeAllForcedDecisions()

Version

3.9.0

Description

Removes all forced decisions (variationKey) for the user context.

Parameters

This table lists the required and optional parameters for the PHP SDK.

ParametersTypeDescription
NoneN/AN/A

Returns

A success/failure boolean status.

Example

See the complete PHP SDK example.

Full Code Example

$optimizelyClient = OptimizelyFactory::createDefaultInstance($sdkKey);

$user = $optimizelyClient->createUserContext('test_user', $attributes);

$flagContext = new OptimizelyDecisionContext('flag-1', null);
$flagAndABTestContext = new OptimizelyDecisionContext('flag-1', 'ab-test-1');
$flagAndDeliveryRuleContext = new OptimizelyDecisionContext('flag-1', 'delivery-1');
$variationAForcedDecision = new OptimizelyForcedDecision('variation-a');
$variationBForcedDecision = new OptimizelyForcedDecision('variation-b');
$variationOnForcedDecision = new OptimizelyForcedDecision('on');

// set a forced decision for a flag
$success = $user->setForcedDecision($flagContext, $variationAForcedDecision);
$decision = $user->decide('flag-1');

// set a forced decision for an ab-test rule
$success = $user->setForcedDecision($flagAndABTestContext, $variationBForcedDecision);
$decision = $user->decide('flag-1');

// set a forced variation for a delivery rule
$success = $user->setForcedDecision($flagAndDeliveryRuleContext, $variationOnForcedDecision);
$decision = $user->decide('flag-1');

// get forced variations
$forcedDecision = $user->getForcedDecision($flagContext);
echo "[ForcedDecision] variationKey = {$forcedDecision}";

// remove forced variations
$success = $user->removeForcedDecision($flagAndABTestContext);
$success = $user->removeAllForcedDecisions();

See Also

OptimizelyUserContext