how to fix undefined index on $_GET? - php

Question

I am unable to understand how to fix this notice. It gives a undefined index on a $_GET[' '] and I cannot set a isset() as it'll brake the query and code.
class.php
private $perPage = 8;
private $startPage = 0;
public function latestArticles()
{
if($_GET['page'] <= 1) NOTICE ERROR <-- is here on the $_GET['page'];
$this->startPage = 0;
else
$this->startPage = $_GET['page'] * $this->perPage - $this->perPage;
$this->db->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_EMULATE_PREPARES, FALSE);
$sth = $this->db->prepare("SELECT * FROM articles ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT ?, ?");
$sth->execute(array($this->startPage, $this->perPage));
$data = $sth->fetchAll();
return $data;
}
And this code which sets the header if the button is clicked(next or previous button). If you first load the page, there is no header it loads like ex: www.site.com/ so it gives the error as there are no $_GET['page'] being set, but I cannot get around this issue.. this here is how I am printing the data being retrieved by the function.
index.php
<?php
if(!isset($_GET['page']))
$page = 1;
else
$page = $_GET['page'];
foreach($latestArticles as $article)
{
$title = $article['title'];
echo ''.$title.'';
}
$prev = $page-1;
$next = $page+1;
echo "
<a class='nxt_prevButton' href='?page=$prev'>previous page</a>
<a class='nxt_prevButton' href='?page=$next'>next page</a>
";
?>
failed attempts
I have set the isset() and empty() but it doesn't allow the code to work which is a next and previous button for more results, 8 results per page. (notice goes away but code (query) stops working).
What is a way to get around this, by fixing the code? WITHOUT using error_reporting(0); ?

Answer 1

You definitely need to use isset, it's just a matter of working out the logic.
I think, if I understand this right, that you could do this:
if(!isset($_GET['page']) || $_GET['page'] <= 1)
$this->startPage = 0;
else
$this->startPage = $_GET['page'] * $this->perPage - $this->perPage;
So if $_GET['page'] isn't set, startPage will be 0.