Monday, 28 October 2013
PHP 101 (part 3): Looping The Loop
Going Deeper
If you’ve been paying attention, you remember that in
Part Two I gave you a quick crash course in
PHP’s basic control structures and operators. I also showed you how PHP
can be used to process the data entered into a Web form. In this
tutorial, I’m going to delve deeper into PHP’s operators and control
structures, showing you two new operators, an alternative to the
interesting loops. So keep reading… this is just about to get interesting!
Part Two I gave you a quick crash course in
PHP’s basic control structures and operators. I also showed you how PHP
can be used to process the data entered into a Web form. In this
tutorial, I’m going to delve deeper into PHP’s operators and control
structures, showing you two new operators, an alternative to the
if-else() family of conditional statements, and some of PHP’s moreinteresting loops. So keep reading… this is just about to get interesting!
Switching Things Around
An alternative to the
PHP’s
looks like this:
if-else() family of control structures isPHP’s
switch-case() statement, which does almost the same thing. Itlooks like this:
switch (decision-variable) {
case first condition is true:
do this! case second condition is true:
do this!
... and so on...
}
Depending on the value of the decision variable, the appropriate
handle all those occasions when the value of the decision variable does
not match any of the listed
case() block is executed. A default block can also be created, tohandle all those occasions when the value of the decision variable does
not match any of the listed
case() conditions.
I’ll make this a little clearer by re-writing one of my earlier
examples in terms of the
examples in terms of the
switch() statement:
<html>
<head></head>
<body>
<?php
// get form selection
$day = $_GET['day'];
// check value and select appropriate item
switch ($day) {
case 1:
$day = $_GET['day'];
// check value and select appropriate item
switch ($day) {
case 1:
$special = 'Chicken in oyster sauce';
break;
case 2:
$special = 'French onion soup';
break;
break;
case 2:
$special = 'French onion soup';
break;
case 3:
$special = 'Pork chops with mashed potatoes and green salad';
break;
default:
$special = 'Fish and chips';
$special = 'Pork chops with mashed potatoes and green salad';
break;
default:
$special = 'Fish and chips';
break;
}
}
?>
<h2>Today's special is:</h2>
<?php echo $special ?>
</body>
<?php echo $special ?>
</body>
</html>
There are a couple of important keywords here:
- The
breakkeyword is used to break out of theswitch()statement
block and move immediately to the lines following it. - The
defaultkeyword is used to execute a default set of statements
when the variable passed toswitch()does not satisfy any of the
conditions listed within the block.
A common newbie mistake here is to forget the
every
break at the end ofevery
case() block. Remember that if you forget to break out of acase() block, PHP will continue executing the code in all thesubsequent
case() blocks it encounters.Creative Conditionals
Normally, when creating and processing forms in PHP, you would place
the HTML form in one file, and handle form processing through a
separate PHP script. However, with the power of conditional statements
at your disposal, you can combine both pages into one.
the HTML form in one file, and handle form processing through a
separate PHP script. However, with the power of conditional statements
at your disposal, you can combine both pages into one.
How do you do this? Simple. All you need to do is assign a name to
the form
container variable contains that name when the script first loads up.
If it does, the form has already been submitted, and you can process
the data; if it does not, that the user has not submitted the form and
you therefore need to generate the initial, unfilled form. Thus, by
testing for the presence or absence of this
PHP programmer can use a single PHP script to generate both the initial
form, and the output after it has been submitted, as appropriate.
the form
submit control, and then check whether the special $_POSTcontainer variable contains that name when the script first loads up.
If it does, the form has already been submitted, and you can process
the data; if it does not, that the user has not submitted the form and
you therefore need to generate the initial, unfilled form. Thus, by
testing for the presence or absence of this
submit variable, a cleverPHP programmer can use a single PHP script to generate both the initial
form, and the output after it has been submitted, as appropriate.
Here’s a simple example:
<html>
<head></head>
<body>
<?php
/* if the "submit" variable does not exist, the form has not been submitted - display initial page */
if (!isset($_POST['submit'])) {
/* if the "submit" variable does not exist, the form has not been submitted - display initial page */
if (!isset($_POST['submit'])) {
?>
<form action="<?php echo $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']; ?>" method="post">
Enter your age: <input name="age" size="2">
<input type="submit" name="submit" value="Go">
Enter your age: <input name="age" size="2">
<input type="submit" name="submit" value="Go">
</form>
<?php
}
else {
/* if the "submit" variable exists, the form has been submitted - look for and process form data */
// display result
$age = $_POST['age'];
}
else {
/* if the "submit" variable exists, the form has been submitted - look for and process form data */
// display result
$age = $_POST['age'];
if ($age >= 21) {
echo 'Come on in, we have alcohol and music awaiting you!';
}
else {
echo 'You're too young for this club, come back when you're a little older';
echo 'Come on in, we have alcohol and music awaiting you!';
}
else {
echo 'You're too young for this club, come back when you're a little older';
}
}
?>
}
?>
</body>
</html>
As you can see, the script contains two pages: the initial, empty
form and the result page generated after hitting the
order to decide which page to display, the script first tests for the
presence of the
assumes that the form has yet to be submitted, and displays the initial
list of days. Once the form has been submitted, the same script will be
called to process the form input. This time, however, the
form and the result page generated after hitting the
submit button. Inorder to decide which page to display, the script first tests for the
presence of the
$_POST['submit'] variable. If it doesn’t find it, itassumes that the form has yet to be submitted, and displays the initial
list of days. Once the form has been submitted, the same script will be
called to process the form input. This time, however, the
$_POST['submit'] variable will be set, and so PHP will notdisplay the initial page, but rather the page containing the result message.
Note that for this to work, your
assigned to its “name” attribute, and you must check for that value in
the primary conditional statement. And in case you were wondering, the
information, including the path and name of the currently executing script.
submit button must have a valueassigned to its “name” attribute, and you must check for that value in
the primary conditional statement. And in case you were wondering, the
$_SERVER array is a special PHP variable which always holds serverinformation, including the path and name of the currently executing script.
Next up, loops.
One by One
For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a loop is a control
structure that enables you to repeat the same set of php
statements or commands over and over again (the actual number of
repetitions can be a number you specify, or depend on the fulfillment
of one or more conditions).
structure that enables you to repeat the same set of php
statements or commands over and over again (the actual number of
repetitions can be a number you specify, or depend on the fulfillment
of one or more conditions).
Now, last time out you saw a few comparison and logical
operators, which help in building conditional statements. Since this
segment of the tutorial is going to focus on loops, this is an
appropriate time to introduce you to PHP’s auto-increment and
auto-decrement operators, which see a lot of use in this context.
operators, which help in building conditional statements. Since this
segment of the tutorial is going to focus on loops, this is an
appropriate time to introduce you to PHP’s auto-increment and
auto-decrement operators, which see a lot of use in this context.
The auto-increment operator is a PHP operator designed to
automatically increment the value of the variable it is attached to by
1. It is represented by two “plus” signs (++). This snippet of code should
explain it:
automatically increment the value of the variable it is attached to by
1. It is represented by two “plus” signs (++). This snippet of code should
explain it:
<?php
// define $total as 10
$total = 10;
// increment it
$total++;
// $total is now 11
$total = 10;
// increment it
$total++;
// $total is now 11
echo $total;
?>
Thus,
$total++ is functionally equivalent to $total = $total + 1.
There’s a corresponding auto-decrement operator (–), which does exactly the opposite:
<?php
// define $total as 10
$total = 10;
// decrement it
$total = 10;
// decrement it
$total--;
// $total is now 9
echo $total;
// $total is now 9
echo $total;
?>
These operators are frequently used in loops, to update
the value of the loop counter, speaking of which…
the value of the loop counter, speaking of which…
Being Square
The first – and simplest – loop to
learn in PHP is the so-called
learn in PHP is the so-called
while() loop, which looks like this:
while (condition is true) {
do this!
}
In this case, so long as the condition specified evaluates as true
- remember what you learned in Part Two?
- the PHP statements within the curly braces will continue to execute. As
soon as the condition becomes false, the loop will be broken and the statements
following it will be executed.
- remember what you learned in Part Two?
- the PHP statements within the curly braces will continue to execute. As
soon as the condition becomes false, the loop will be broken and the statements
following it will be executed.
Here’s a quick example which demonstrates the
while() loop:
<html>
<head></head>
<body>
<form action="squares.php" method="POST">
Print all the squares between 1 and <input type="text" name="limit" size="4" maxlength="4">
<input type="submit" name="submit" value="Go">
</form>
</body>
</html>
<body>
<form action="squares.php" method="POST">
Print all the squares between 1 and <input type="text" name="limit" size="4" maxlength="4">
<input type="submit" name="submit" value="Go">
</form>
</body>
</html>
This is a simple form which asks the user to enter a number. When
the form is submitted, the PHP script that is invoked should take this
number and print the squares of all the numbers between 1 and the
entered value. With a
the form is submitted, the PHP script that is invoked should take this
number and print the squares of all the numbers between 1 and the
entered value. With a
while() loop, this is simplicity itself:
<html>
<head></head>
<body>
<?php
// set variables from form input
$upperLimit = $_POST['limit'];
$lowerLimit = 1;
$upperLimit = $_POST['limit'];
$lowerLimit = 1;
// keep printing squares until lower limit = upper limit
while ($lowerLimit <= $upperLimit) {
echo ($lowerLimit * $lowerLimit).' ';
while ($lowerLimit <= $upperLimit) {
echo ($lowerLimit * $lowerLimit).' ';
$lowerLimit++;
}
// print end marker
echo 'END';
}
// print end marker
echo 'END';
?>
</body>
</html>
This script uses a
values of
while() loop to count forwards from 1 until thevalues of
$lowerLimit and $upperLimit are equal.Loop First, Ask Questions Later
The
condition is true. But what happens if the condition is true on the
first iteration of the loop itself? In the previous example, if you
were to enter the value 0in the form, the
execute even once. Try it yourself and you’ll see what I mean.
while() loop executes a set of statements while a specifiedcondition is true. But what happens if the condition is true on the
first iteration of the loop itself? In the previous example, if you
were to enter the value 0in the form, the
while() loop would notexecute even once. Try it yourself and you’ll see what I mean.
If you’re in a situation where you need to execute a set of statements *at least*
once, PHP offers you the
once, PHP offers you the
do-while() loop. Here’s what it looks like:
do {
do this!
} while (condition is true)
Let’s take a quick example to better understand the difference
between
between
while() and do-while():
<?php
$x = 100;
// while loop
while ($x == 700) {
// while loop
while ($x == 700) {
echo "Running...";
break;
}
break;
}
?>
In this case, no matter how many times you run this PHP script, you
will get no output at all, since the value of
But, if you ran this version of the script:
will get no output at all, since the value of
$x is not equal to 700.But, if you ran this version of the script:
<?php
$x = 100;
// do-while loop
do {
echo "Running...";
// do-while loop
do {
echo "Running...";
break;
} while ($x == 700);
} while ($x == 700);
?>
you would see one line of output, as the code within the
do()
block would run once.
Let’s now revise the previous PHP script so that it runs at least
once, regardless of what value is entered into the form:
once, regardless of what value is entered into the form:
<html>
<head></head>
<body>
<?php
// set variables from form input
$upperLimit = $_POST['limit'];
$lowerLimit = 1;
// keep printing squares until lower limit = upper limit
$upperLimit = $_POST['limit'];
$lowerLimit = 1;
// keep printing squares until lower limit = upper limit
do {
echo ($lowerLimit * $lowerLimit).' ';
$lowerLimit++;
} while ($lowerLimit <= $upperLimit);
echo ($lowerLimit * $lowerLimit).' ';
$lowerLimit++;
} while ($lowerLimit <= $upperLimit);
// print end marker
echo ' END';
echo ' END';
?>
</body>
</html>
Thus, the construction of the
statements within the loop are executed first, and the condition to be
tested is checked afterwards. This implies that the statements within
the curly braces would be executed at least once.
do-while() loop is such that thestatements within the loop are executed first, and the condition to be
tested is checked afterwards. This implies that the statements within
the curly braces would be executed at least once.
Read more about the
http://www.php.net/manual/en/control-structures.while.php and
while() and do-while() loops athttp://www.php.net/manual/en/control-structures.while.php and
Doing it by Numbers
Both the
as long as the specified conditional expression remains true. But what if you
need to execute a certain set of statements a specific number of times
- for example, printing a series of thirteen
sequential numbers, or repeating a particular set of
five times? In such cases, clever programmers reach for the
while() and do-while() loops continue to iterate foras long as the specified conditional expression remains true. But what if you
need to execute a certain set of statements a specific number of times
- for example, printing a series of thirteen
sequential numbers, or repeating a particular set of
<td> cellsfive times? In such cases, clever programmers reach for the
for() loop…
The
for() loop typically looks like this:
for (initial value of counter; condition; new value of counter) {
do this!
}
Looks like gibberish? Well, hang in there for a minute…the
“counter” here is a PHP variable that is initialized to a numeric
value, and keeps track of the number of times the loop is executed.
Before each execution of the loop, the “condition” is tested.
If it evaluates to true, the loop will execute
once more and the counter will be appropriately incremented; if it
evaluates to false, the loop will be broken and the lines following it
will be executed instead.
“counter” here is a PHP variable that is initialized to a numeric
value, and keeps track of the number of times the loop is executed.
Before each execution of the loop, the “condition” is tested.
If it evaluates to true, the loop will execute
once more and the counter will be appropriately incremented; if it
evaluates to false, the loop will be broken and the lines following it
will be executed instead.
Here’s a simple example that demonstrates how this loop can be used:
<html>
<head>
<basefont face="Arial">
</head>
<body>
<?php
// define the number$number = 13;
// use a for loop to calculate tables for that numberfor ($x = 1; $x <= 10; $x++) {
// use a for loop to calculate tables for that numberfor ($x = 1; $x <= 10; $x++) {
echo "$number x $x = ".($number * $x)."<br />";
}
}
?>
</body>
</html>
The first thing I’ve done here is define the number to be used for
the multiplication table. I’ve used 13 here – for no reason other than that it
rhymes with “green”.
the multiplication table. I’ve used 13 here – for no reason other than that it
rhymes with “green”.
Next, I’ve constructed a
variable, initialized it to 1. and specified that the loop should run no
more than 10 times. The auto-increment operator (discussed earlier)
automatically increments the counter by 1 every time the loop is
executed. Within the loop, the counter is multiplied by the
number, to create the multiplication table, and
for() loop with $x as the countervariable, initialized it to 1. and specified that the loop should run no
more than 10 times. The auto-increment operator (discussed earlier)
automatically increments the counter by 1 every time the loop is
executed. Within the loop, the counter is multiplied by the
number, to create the multiplication table, and
echo() is used to display the result on the page.Turning the Tables
As you just saw, a
useful – programming construct. The next example illustrates its usefulness
in a manner that should endear it to any HTML programmer.
for() loop is a very interesting – anduseful – programming construct. The next example illustrates its usefulness
in a manner that should endear it to any HTML programmer.
<html>
<head></head>
<body>
<form method="post" action="<?php echo $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']; ?>">
Enter number of rows <input name="rows" type="text" size="4"> and columns <input name="columns" type="text" size="4"> <input type="submit" name="submit" value="Draw Table">
<form method="post" action="<?php echo $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']; ?>">
Enter number of rows <input name="rows" type="text" size="4"> and columns <input name="columns" type="text" size="4"> <input type="submit" name="submit" value="Draw Table">
</form>
<?php
if (isset($_POST['submit'])) {
echo "<table width = 90% border = '1' cellspacing = '5' cellpadding = '0'>";
echo "<table width = 90% border = '1' cellspacing = '5' cellpadding = '0'>";
// set variables from form input
$rows = $_POST['rows'];
$columns = $_POST['columns'];
// loop to create rows
$rows = $_POST['rows'];
$columns = $_POST['columns'];
// loop to create rows
for ($r = 1; $r <= $rows; $r++) {
echo "<tr>";
echo "<tr>";
// loop to create columns
for ($c = 1; $c <= $columns;$c++) {
echo "<td> </td>
";
for ($c = 1; $c <= $columns;$c++) {
echo "<td> </td>
";
}
echo "</tr>
";
}
echo "</table>
";
}
echo "</tr>
";
}
echo "</table>
";
}
?>
</body>
</html>
As you’ll see if you try coding the same thing by hand, PHP’s
loop just saved you a whole lot of work! And it looks good too – take a look at the
source code of the dynamically generated table, and you’ll see that
it’s nicely formatted, with line breaks at the end of every table cell
and row. This magic is accomplished by forcing a carriage return
with
for()loop just saved you a whole lot of work! And it looks good too – take a look at the
source code of the dynamically generated table, and you’ll see that
it’s nicely formatted, with line breaks at the end of every table cell
and row. This magic is accomplished by forcing a carriage return
with
echo().
For more examples of the
http://www.php.net/manual/en/control-structures.for.php.
for() loop in action, visithttp://www.php.net/manual/en/control-structures.for.php.
Loops are frequently used in combination with one of PHP’s more
complex data types, the animal known as the array. That’s a whole topic in itself, and in fact
I’m going to discuss it in detail in the next segment of this tutorial.
Then I’m going to show you how arrays, loops and forms all work together to make
the creation of complex Web forms as easy as eating pie. All that and more in
Part Four!
complex data types, the animal known as the array. That’s a whole topic in itself, and in fact
I’m going to discuss it in detail in the next segment of this tutorial.
Then I’m going to show you how arrays, loops and forms all work together to make
the creation of complex Web forms as easy as eating pie. All that and more in
Part Four!
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