How to pull request / input / cookie parameters in Joomla.
// General Request - REQUEST dataset
JFactory::getApplication()->input->get('key', $default);
// GET specific dataset
JFactory::getApplication()->input->get->get('key');
// POST specific dataset
JFactory::getApplication()->input->post->get('key');
// COOKIE specific dataset
JFactory::getApplication()->input->cookie->get('key');