[RESOLVED] Retrieving data from database by passing hyperlink variables

cbesh2

I have a page that retrieves product data from a database. I would like to create one .php file with a list of hyperlinks that passes a variable that will return the appropriate data.

For example:  When you click on the link for "shirts", all shirt products are retrieved from the database using the same page.
	         When you click on the link for "jeans", all jean products are retrieve from the database using the same page.

I would think that a variable needs to be passed in some way and sent through a series of if/then statements.

For example:  If the "shirt" link is selected then $selectedproduct = "shirts"
                     If $selectedproducts = "shirts" then retrieve shirt data from the database

I know how to retrieve the data, I just don't know how to pass the variable to tell it what to retrieve. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advantage for any help.

Jasp182

There are many ways to do it. Me personally, I would have the links point to a JS function that populates a hidden input field in a form and then post the form. The value is in the $_POST array when the page posts back.

samudasu

You do it like this, just to give you the basics:

linkpage.html

<a href="category.php?cat=jeans">Jeans</a>
<a href="category.php?cat=shirts">Shirts</a>

category.php

$query = "select * from table where category = " . $_GET['cat'];

When you click on the link, the value will show in the $_GET superglobal.

cbesh2

Great! That's very close to what I'm needing. I would really like to be able to do this all from the .php product page if possible. Do you think I could take the .php outline from above and incorporate it with somekind of javascript onclick function so that it would reload the page with the variable in place? I've never worked with javascript and .php in the same script before.

cbesh2

Yes! I got it running using the suggestion above and with no JS. Not sure what I was doing wrong earlier but now it's up and running. Thank you so much!