less < operator not recognize if I set like string PHP - php

Question

I have strange problem with PHP. When I set the string like '<' and if I make new string with few strings then when is go to '<' is stop to working and go to next row of the script
$a = new SomeObject();
$a->where('id', 13332, "<");
public function where($column, $param, $operator = '=') {
echo strlen($operator);
if (isset($column) && strlen($operator) > 0) {
echo $operator;
if ($operator === '>') {
$this->_where = ' WHERE ' . $column . '>?';
} else if ($operator == '<') {
$this->_where = ' WHERE ' . $column . '<?';
} else if ($operator === '=') {
$this->_where = ' WHERE ' . $column . '=?';
} else {
$this->_where = ' WHERE ' . $column . $operator . '?';
}
$this->_where = ' WHERE ' . $column . chr(0x3c) . '?';
echo '<br/>' . $this->_where . '<br/>';
} else {
throw new \Exception('We need to have $column variable like string and $param like Param!', 500);
}
echo '<br/>c';
}
And the result is:
1< WHERE id c
And my question is why less < is cannot get like string. The > and = operators is OK. But the < just is not recognize. What I'm doing wrong?

Answer 1

Remove one line and it will work (test one below yourself):-
<?php
error_reporting(E_ALL); //check all type of errors
ini_set('display_errors',1); // display those if any happen
$a = new SomeObject();
$a->where('id', 13332, "<");
public function where($column, $param, $operator = '=') {
echo strlen($operator);
if (isset($column) && strlen($operator) > 0) {
echo $operator;
if ($operator === '>') {
$this->_where = ' WHERE ' . $column . '> ?'; // added space
} else if ($operator == '<') {
$this->_where = ' WHERE ' . $column . '< ?'; // added space
} else if ($operator === '=') {
$this->_where = ' WHERE ' . $column . '= ?'; // added space
} else {
$this->_where = ' WHERE ' . $column . $operator . '?';
}
//$this->_where = ' WHERE ' . $column . chr(0x3c) . '?'; remove this line
echo '<br/>' . $this->_where . '<br/>';
} else {
throw new \Exception('We need to have $column variable like string and $param like Param!', 500);
}
echo '<br/>c';
}
Note:-
Reason for not working:-
You have to add spaces too to make it correct(commented by #RiggsFolly) (For browser showing sake)
You are just over-writing your conditions. (commented and example by #JonStirling :- https://3v4l.org/vCO5Z) (for working purpose)

Answer 2

In this line:
$this->_where = ' WHERE ' . $column . chr(0x3e) . '?';
you overwrite your all previous changes so no wonder you can not see right result

Answer 3

Please try with this function and let me know will it gives you desired output
public function where($column, $param, $operator = '=') {
echo strlen($operator);
if (isset($column) && strlen($operator) > 0) {
echo $operator;
if ($operator === '>') {
$this->_where = ' WHERE ' . $column . '> ?';
} else if ($operator == '<') {
$this->_where = ' WHERE ' . $column . '< ?';
} else if ($operator === '=') {
$this->_where = ' WHERE ' . $column . '= ?';
} else {
$this->_where = ' WHERE ' . $column . $operator . ' ?';
}
if($this->_where != '')
{
$this->_where .= ' and ' . $column . chr(0x3e) . ' ?';
}
else
{
$this->_where = ' WHERE ' . $column . chr(0x3e) . ' ?';
}
echo '<br/>' . $this->_where . '<br/>';
} else {
throw new \Exception('We need to have $column variable like string and $param like Param!', 500);
}
echo '<br/>c';
}