sql - Modify $select to allow for searching in php -

how modify $select function allow searching database when customer types in search text , clicks "search"? i'd able type in form field, , php automatically updates page form data dynamically , able define field search upon in database!

this letting me view customers table:

$select = $db->query("select * customers order id desc"); <?php         if (!$select->num_rows) {             echo '<p>', 'no records', '</p>';         }else{         ?>             <table border="1" width="100%">             <thead>                 <tr>                     <th>first name</th>                     <th>last name</th>                 </tr>             </thead>             <tbody>             <?php                 while ($row = $select->fetch_object()) {             ?>                 <tr>                     <td><?php echo $row->fname;?></td>                     <td><?php echo $row->lname;?></td> 

first of all, might try putting opening <?php before rather after first line of code... :-)

then modify code values html form - assume search term named q kind of this:

search: <input type="text" name="q" /> <input type="submit" name="search" /> 

then php script doing searching change query this:

$select = $db->query("select * customers fname '%$_request[q]%' or lname '%$_request[q]%' order id desc"); 

if entered "sam" end query looks this:

$select = $db->query("select * customers fname '%sam%' or lname '%sam%' order id desc"); 

do note showing simplest version constructing query. in fact should never user-supplied data. instead, should prepare , bind , execute statement. not filler @ end of answer - it's important. while testing may want see how works forming string above.

to answer "bonus points" - can update current page including search form on same page php script displays results. process php code if submit button has been pressed. whole script (in simple form) might this:

search: <input type="text" name="q" /> <input type="submit" name="search" /> <?php if (isset($_request['search'])) {     # query     # loop through results, printing them off in appropriate html } 

to answer "bonus bonus" points, set pull-down ("select" in html) values of options actual field names , display human-readable form of that. if select had name "field_name" modify query this:

$select = $db->query("select * customers $_request[field_name] '%$_request[q]%' order id desc"); 

do note cannot prepare/bind column name, have careful validate field (probably checking exists in list of acceptable values).