check db for already registered user

how would i check my database when people are registering, to see if the name already exists?

I take it you have something unique about each user (normally their email address).

When someone tries to register simply do something along the lines of

SELECT count(id) from user_table where email = '$email';

if it returns anything above 0 then you know that someone with that email address is already a member.

As most email addresses (with the exceptoin of distribution lists and groups) are only ever for 1 person then your in a good position.

HTH

so for user name i would use...

SELECT count(id) from biohazard_users where username = '$username';

correct?

not necesarily i was only providing an example of how it could be done

There is something to take into account

1) Do you have register_globals on or off and

If you have it on the you can use

SELECT count(id) from biohazard_users where username = '$username';

however if it is switched OFF the it's be

SELECT count(id) from biohazard_users where username = '$HTTP_POST_VARS[username];

HTH

ya, its on

i'm stupid..

got error Unexpected T_STRING ? gr 🙁