CodeIgniter - checking data and receiving 'Trying to get property of non-object' - php

Question

Im trying to test a pin number in the database compared to one entered by a user, whenever i run it i get a 'Trying to get property on non-object' error ... I cant seem to spot where im going wrong, could someone please help me out ... Its saying the error is on the $thepin = $pins->pin; line
The code i have in my controller is as follows:
function check_pin()
{
$pin = md5($this->input->post('oldpin'));
$email = $this->input->post('email');
$existingpin = $this->users->get_pin_by_email($email);
foreach($existingpin as $pins){
$thepin = $pins->pin;
}
if($pin != $thepin){
$this->form_validation->set_message('check_pin', 'The Old Pin Number does not match the existing one');
return FALSE;
} else {
return TRUE;
}
}
and the following is the code in my model
function get_pin_by_email($emailaddress)
{
$this->db->where('LOWER(email)=', strtolower($emailaddress));
$query = $this->db->get($this->table_name);
if ($query->num_rows() == 1) return $query->row();
return NULL;
}

Answer 1

The Controller code should be:-
function check_pin()
{
$pin = md5($this->input->post('oldpin'));
$email = $this->input->post('email');
$existingpin = $this->users->get_pin_by_email($email);
foreach($existingpin as $pins){
// Check for the NULL return
if ($pins != NULL && is_object($pins)) {
$thepin = $pins->pin;
}
}
if($pin != $thepin){
$this->form_validation->set_message('check_pin', 'The Old Pin Number does not match the existing one');
return FALSE;
} else {
return TRUE;
}
}
If you look closely in the model code, you will find that you are returning two data types - one is Object & another is NULL. So in your controller code, you should also check that accordingly.
Hope it helps.