Image pathname from mysql php doesn't display the image - php

Question

So after I store a pathname of an image file in mysql php, I am having difficulty retrieving that image to display. In other words, when I do an "inspect element" the "src" value is set. However, the image doesnt display and all that is left is a square box on the page. I tried using a default profile picture that is already set for the user, just to check if its a php assigning value problem. But its not. I also checked the file contents physically and all the files are uploaded fine. The only problem is getting it to display.
Here's how I do it.
Php for checking file upload
error_reporting(E_ALL);
if($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"]=="POST"&&isset($_POST["savePersonalInfo"]))
{
if(isset($_FILES["ppFile"]))
{
$name=$_FILES["ppFile"]["name"];
$tempName=$_FILES["ppFile"]["tmp_name"];
$size=$_FILES["ppFile"]["size"];
$type=$_FILES["ppFile"]["type"];
if(($type=="image/jpg"||$type=="image/jpeg"||$type=="image/pjpeg")&&( ($size>0&&$size<=4000000000))
{
$dir="C:/xampp/htdocs/hcUsers/".$_SESSION['pin']."/profilePictures";
$realPath=$dir."/".$name;
if(is_dir($dir))
{
move_uploaded_file($tempName,$realPath);
$_SESSION["ppPath"]=$realPath;
$fileQuery="UPDATE `current users` SET `ppPath`='$realPath' WHERE `id`='".$_SESSION['pin']."' " ;
checkConnect(mysql_query($fileQuery),"query of $fileQuery");
}
else
{
mkdir($dir,0777,true);
move_uploaded_file($tempName, $realPath);
$_SESSION["ppPath"]=$realPath;
$fileQuery="UPDATE `current users` SET `ppPath`='$realPath' WHERE `id`='".$_SESSION['pin']."' " ;
checkConnect(mysql_query($fileQuery),"query of $fileQuery");
}
}
else
{
print "Error".$_FILES["ppFile"]["error"];
}
}
?>
Php for retrieving the image pathname and displaying the image
<?php
session_start();
connectDatabase();
$query="SELECT * FROM `current users` WHERE `email`='".$_SESSION['email']."' AND ` `password`='".$_SESSION['password']."' ";
$result=mysql_query($query);
checkConnect($result,"query of $query");
$row=mysql_fetch_assoc($result);
$_SESSION["pin"]=$row["id"];
$imgPath="http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/images/covers/avariel-no-end-in-sight(demo)-20110719103608.jpg";
if($row["ppPath"]!="")
{
$imgPath=$row["ppPath"];
$_SESSION["ppPath"]=$imgPath;
}
?>
<p><img src="<?php echo $imgPath ?>" alt="" type="image/jpeg" class="profilePic" >
In the end the 'src' value is set but the image won't display.
Please help.

Answer 1

This is a part of your code:
$dir="C:/xampp/htdocs/hcUsers/".$_SESSION['pin']."/profilePictures";
$realPath=$dir."/".$name;
if(is_dir($dir))
{
move_uploaded_file($tempName,$realPath);
$_SESSION["ppPath"]=$realPath;
$fileQuery="UPDATE `current users` SET `ppPath`='$realPath' WHERE `id`='".$_SESSION['pin']."' " ;
This way, when retreiving ppPath from the database and trying to display it in a browser, the src of the image will point to C:/xampp/etc. That won't work, since your visitors don't have access to that directory. Neither do you, from a browser's perspective. Change it to a relative URL.
Furthermore I see a lot of duplicate code and you're abusing session variables, but that's offtopic.