Return associative array from function - php

Question

This is how I would normally run a loop with database information
$query = "SELECT * from courses ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 4";
$stmt = $db->prepare($query);
$stmt->execute();
while($row = $stmt->fetch(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC)) { }
Now $row[] can be used to represent database information within the loop.
My problem is that I'll be utilizing this query a lot for separate while loops. However, I don't wish to have to complete this statement every time I require it, so I want a function to be able to refer to with any variables required.
For instance, I tried.
function retrieve_assoc_array_limit4($table) {
$user = '***';
$pass = '***';
$db = new PDO('mysql:host=localhost;dbname=***', $user, $pass);
$query = ("SELECT * FROM ? ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 4");
$stmt = $db->prepare($query);
$stmt->bindValue(?, $table);
$stmt->execute();
$row = $stmt->fetch(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC);
return $row;
}
But when trying to while it I get an unlimited amount of returns of the same information whiled.
while($row = retrieve_assoc_array_limit4($table_name)) {
exho $data;
}
My question is how logically to use the first code in a function so that I can use it in the same with without writing out the full statement relentlessly.

Answer 1

many ways of doing this, to use your code with little changes:
calling fetchAll() instead of fetch():
function retrieve_assoc_array_limit4($table) {
$user = '***';
$pass = '***';
$db = new PDO('mysql:host=localhost;dbname=***', $user, $pass);
$query = ("SELECT * FROM ? ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 4");
$stmt = $db->prepare($query);
$stmt->bindValue(?, $table);
$stmt->execute();
$rows = $stmt->fetchAll(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC);
return $rows;
}
then call your function and do a while or foreach:
$rows = retrieve_assoc_array_limit4($table_name);
foreach($rows as $row){
//do your stuff
}