HTML for a PHP function - php

Question

I used prepared statements for my data collection. I am trying to display that data with a fetch_array function in an organized fashion. Is it possible to insert an html table into a php function that relies on a prepared statement?
I've read to use a HEREDOC, but I do not know what to do in place of the variables. I've also tried to create another document for a table, but have the same question.
This is the function I am using.
function showProfile($user) {
global $connection;
$query = "SELECT * FROM profiles WHERE user='$user'";
$result = $connection->query($query);
/* associative array */
$row = $result->fetch_array(MYSQLI_ASSOC);
printf(
"%s <br> %s\n",
$row["forename"],
$row["surname"]
) . "<br style='clear:left;'><br>";
}
This is the table I want to use
<table width="398" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td height="26" colspan="2">Your Profile Information </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="82" valign="top"><div align="left">FirstName:</div></td>
<td width="165" valign="top"><?php echo $forename ?></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><div align="left">LastName:</div></td>
<td valign="top"><?php echo $surname ?></td>
</tr>
</table>
I can display my data with the function, however, I want to display it in a more organized way.

Answer 1

instead of printf(), you can just echo
echo "<table width='398'> <-- check here the quote marks so the string doesnt break
<tr>
<td>".$row['forename']."</td> <- then concat all the variables you want like this
</tr>
</table>";

Answer 2

I have not tested but this function but it should work. I have wrapped the table rows, in a while loop, although it may not be necessary if you are getting back one row in your query.
function showProfile($user)
{
global $connection;
$query = $connection->prepare("SELECT * FROM profiles WHERE user = :user ");
$query->bindValue(':user', $user);
$result = $query->execute();
echo "<table width='398' border='0' align='center' cellpadding='0'>
<tr><td height='26' colspan='2'>Your Profile Information </td>
</tr> ";
/* associative array */
while($row = $result->fetch_array(MYSQLI_ASSOC))
{
echo "
<tr>
<td width='82' valign='top'><div align='left'>FirstName:</div></td>
<td width='165' valign='top'>{$row['forename']}</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign='top'><div align='left'>LastName:</div></td>
<td valign='top'>{$row['surname']}</td>
</tr>";
}
echo "</table>";
}

Answer 3

As much as possible, you want to separate logic from presentation. Your table example is definitely on track. However, I would suggest thinking a little differently about the output of the function. Instead of the function returning HTML, have it return data that a view could use.
An object is much better suited for the task than a single function:
<?php
class Profile {
private $conn;
private $result;
public function __construct($conn) {
$this->conn = $conn;
}
public function findProfile($user) {
$query = “SELECT * FROM profiles WHERE user=?”;
$stmt = $this->conn->prepare($query);
$stmt->bind_param(‘s’, $user);
$stmt->execute();
$this->result = $stmt->get_result();
}
public function fetch() {
//if($row = $this->result->fetch_array(MYSQLI_ASSOC)) {
if($row = $this->result->fetch_assoc()) {
return $row;
}
return false;
}
}
Then your table can be separated into its own file, to be included whenever you wish (assuming $conn and $user are defined):
<?php
$p = new Profile($conn);
$p->findProfile($user);
?>
<!— html stuff here —>
<?php if($info = $p->fetch()): ?>
<table width="398" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td height="26" colspan="2">Your Profile Information </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="82" valign="top"><div align="left">FirstName:</div></td>
<td width="165" valign="top"><?= $info[‘forename’] ?></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><div align="left">LastName:</div></td>
<td valign="top"><?= $info[‘surname’] ?></td>
</tr>
</table>
<?php endif; ?>