How to avoid duplication entry via form into database

Question

<?php
$con = mysql_connect("localhost","root","");
if (!$con)
{
  die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}

mysql_select_db("form", $con);

$reb = "select count(*) from customer where name = '$name';"
if (mysql_result($reb,0) > 0) {
  echo "Item Already Added!<br>";
} else {
  // add the item
}
mysql_close($con);
header( 'Location: http://localhost/cus.php' );
?>

Parse error: parse error in C:\wamp\www\c.php on line 10

Answer 1

Your query needs to be formulated as a string.

$reb = "select count(*) from customer where name = '{$name}'";

edit:

It looks like you're still trying to figure out the basics of PHP here. Database duplication is probably a concern you can worry about after you learn how to recognize and fix your syntax errors. We've already helped you identify a few. Check out some PHP tutorials and see where those take you.

Answer 2

The parse error is happening because the semicolon at the end of your SQL query should go after the end of the string (after the "), not inside it.

"select count(*) from customer where name = '$name';"
                                                   ^

to

"select count(*) from customer where name = '$name'";
                                                    ^

Answer 3

Aside from the syntax error, to actually answer your question, you should enforce a UNIQUE constraint on the field you want to protect. Perform a blind INSERT and if the statement should fail with an error #1062 (duplicate entry for key 'whatever'), then force the user to reinput a new value. This is a much more smooth algo for providing unique usernames, etc. Don't just search through every record everytime you want to perform an insert.

Answer 4

To answer your question:

How to avoid duplication entry via form into database

You already seem to have a solution. Just remove the code errors you have.

Reading documentation and having a look at examples is also very helpful. Read about mysql_result

Answer 5

Hire a PHP programmer. That will (most likely) fix the error.