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PHP

Posted by Frederick Rogers
Frederick Rogers
25,142 Points

my 'add_project($title, $category)' function returns NULL in if test

Hi, I am having some issues with my code. In this video Alena asks us to test our 'add_project()' function (with parameters) stating that is all is good it should return true or false if the database connection works. However when i var_dump the function with parameters it returns NULL. Not sure what is wrong here.

Video in question: CRUD Operations with PHP -> Adding projects

add_project() function

function add_project($title, $category) {
    include 'connection.php';

    $sql = 'INSERT INTO projects(title, category) VALUES (?, ?)';

    try {
        $results = $db->prepare($sql);
        $results->bindValue(1, $title, PDO::PARAM_STR);
        $results->bindValue(2, $category, PDO::PARAM_STR);
        $results->execute();
    } catch ( Exception $error ) {
        echo "Error!: " . $error->getMessage() . "<br />";
        return false;
    }
}

project_list.php code

if ( $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST' ) {
    $title = trim(filter_input(INPUT_POST, 'title', FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING));   
    $category = trim(filter_input(INPUT_POST, 'category', FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING)); 

    if ( empty($title) || empty($category) ) {
        $error_message = 'Please fill in the required fields: Title, Category';
    } else {
        var_dump(add_project($title, $category));
        if ( add_project($title, $category) ) {
            header('Location: /crud-task-app/project_list.php');
            exit;
        } else {
            $error_message = 'Could not add project';
            echo 'the project is added, but not redirect';
        }
    }
}
Frederick Rogers
Frederick Rogers
25,142 Points

Odd but if i add a "return true;" at the end of my TRY block in the add_project() function. It appears to work as intended and redirects correctly.

Frederick Rogers
Frederick Rogers
25,142 Points

adding "return $results->execute();" appears work as well, but the lesson led me to believe this was not required.

1 Answer

Frederick Rogers
Frederick Rogers
25,142 Points
Frederick Rogers
Frederick Rogers
25,142 Points

At approximately 4:18 in the video i noticed Alena adding a "return true;" statment at the end of the "add_project()" function. My bad, should have paid more attention.