PHP PDO table not updating data

Question

I'm new to coding with PHP, and in trying to create a to-do list I have come undone after creating a file called 'add.php' which is supposed to add new data to the table. The main file, index.php, calls the table elements ok and displays them on the browser, but I cannot add new items.

The code in add.php is here:

<?php

require_once 'app/init.php';

if(isset($_POST['name'])) {
    $name = trim($POST['name']);

    if(!empty($name)) {
        $addedQuery = $db->prepare("
            INSERT INTO items (name, user, done, created) 
            VALUES (:name, :user, 0, NOW() )
                ");

        $addedQuery->execute([
            'name' => $name,
            'user' => $_SESSION['user_id']
            ]);
    }
}

header('location: index.php');




?> 

If it helps, I am using PHP 5.5.12 and MySQL 5.6.17, on WampServer 2.5

Answer 1

OK... and before anyone gets the misconception about being obligated to use the colon as a placeholder in the array, is a myth.

• It is perfectly legal/valid syntax in PDO. (consult footnote).

• The colon however, does need to be in the VALUES().

The real problem here is with this $POST, and is missing its underscore for it $_POST.

• It's a superglobal: http://php.net/manual/en/language.variables.superglobals.php

Error reporting would have thrown you an undefined variable notice.

Add error reporting to the top of your file(s) which will help find errors.

<?php 
error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set('display_errors', 1);

// rest of your code

Sidenote: Displaying errors should only be done in staging, and never production.

Plus, make sure the session array is set/not empty, and that the session was started. That isn't shown/indicated in your post.

Also make sure that your form does use a POST method and that your input holds the name attribute for the input.

I.e.: <input type="text" name="name">

Check for errors in PDO also:

• http://php.net/manual/en/pdo.error-handling.php

Your connection method is also unclear, so make sure you are indeed using PDO to connect with.

• Different MySQL APIs do not intermix.

Other references:

• isset() http://php.net/manual/en/function.isset.php
• empty() http://php.net/manual/en/function.empty.php
• sessions: http://php.net/manual/en/session.examples.basic.php
• Choosing an API: http://php.net/manual/en/mysqlinfo.api.choosing.php
• Can I mix MySQL APIs in PHP?
• PHP forms: http://php.net/manual/en/tutorial.forms.php

---

Footnote:

As stated in comments and being a nice find on the part of VolkerK:

"it is stored internally with the leading colon, see"

• https://github.com/php/php-src/blob/master/ext/pdo/pdo_stmt.c#L366

Answer 2

When passing named parameters in PDO execute method you must pass then as an array with the name prefixed with a colon (:name not name).

And when passing indexed parameters (using ? in the prepare method) then you don't associate a key at all in he execute method.

so try:

$addedQuery->execute([ ':name' => $name, ':user' => $_SESSION['user_id'] ]);

and make sure that $_SESSION['user_id'] is set properly.

EDIT: Did you turn on php errors in he php.ini?