While loop within a while loop logically not working in PHP - php

Question

I have this while loop within another while loop in my PHP:
$selecty = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM followers WHERE userid='".$_SESSION['id']."'");
$rowsy = mysql_num_rows($selecty);
echo '<td>'. $table["username"]. '</td>';
echo '<td>';
while ($tables = mysql_fetch_assoc($selecty)) {
if($tables['followerid']!=$table['id']) {
echo ''.'';
} else {
echo ''.'';
}
}
echo '</td>';
echo "<tr>";
This is more of a logic question and whether or not a nested while loop is the right way to do it. What I'm trying to say is if the 'followerid' from 'user followers table' is not the same as the 'id' from users table (which is from the previous loop) - echo the follow button, else echo the following button.
This is working file while I have data in the followers table but If I don't nothing shows (as there are no rows) - How could I implement this in my PHP? So also if there are no rows in 'followers table' echo follow button?

Answer 1

you can try do it like that
$selecty = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM followers WHERE userid='".$_SESSION['id']."'");
$rowsy = mysql_num_rows($selecty);
echo '<td>'. $table["username"]. '</td>';
echo '<td>';
while ($tables = mysql_fetch_assoc($selecty)) {
if($tables['followerid']!=$table['id'] and $tables['followerid'] != '') {
echo '';
} else if($tables['followerid'] =$table['id'] and $tables['followerid'] !='') {
echo '';
} else {
echo what you like here when $tables['followerid'] = ''
}
}
echo '</td>';
echo "<tr>";
edit
class="follow">'.'</a>'
^------------you dont have to make point and single quotes here
$selecty = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM followers WHERE userid='".$_SESSION['id']."'");
$rowsy = mysql_num_rows($selecty);
echo '<table><tr>';
echo '<td>'. $table["username"]. '</td></tr>';
if ($tables['followerid'] !== ''){
while ($tables = mysql_fetch_assoc($selecty)) {
echo '<tr><td>';
if($tables['followerid']!=$table['id'] and $tables['followerid'] != '') {
echo '</td></tr>';
} else if($tables['followerid'] =$table['id'] and $tables['followerid'] !='') {
echo '</td></tr>';
} else {
echo "what you like here </td></tr>";
}
}
}
else {
echo "do your code here " ;
}
echo "</table>";

Answer 2

Put a boolean (FALSE) at the start of the 'followers' loop such that if it gets crossed make it TRUE. If you get outside the loop and it's still FALSE then add the button anyway.
$trip = FALSE;
while ($tables = mysql_fetch_assoc($selecty)) {
if($tables['followerid']!=$table['id']) {
echo ''.'';
} else {
$trip = TRUE;
echo ''.'';
}
}
if( !$trip ) echo '<a href="#" data-userid="'.$_SESSION['id'].'" class="follow">'.'</a