How to update variable before while loop

Question

I have a variable named post_counter, and I want to get the value of it after it finished the loop, and I want it as the first list item to display. but the problem is the php only read the variable as 0 because the compiler read the codes from top to bottom. how can i update my counter? this is my php code:

$post_counter = 0;
<ul>
<?php
$query_post = "SELECT post_date,post_message FROM tbl_posts";
$post_run = mysqli_query($con,$query_post);
echo "<li style = 'text-align:center; cursor:default'><h3>"."New posts".$post_counter."</h3></li>";
while($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($post_run))
{
    echo "<li><a class = 'mark_read'>"."mark as read"."</a></li>";
    $post_counter++;
}
?>
</ul>

the output of this will be:

New posts 0

but it should be

New posts 5 //since there are 5 rows in my table that will be selected

Since you're using it before you actually loop, it will always print 0. Why not get the mysqli_num_rows() of the query and set that for the "New Posts" ? — Darren
– Darren, Commented Oct 8, 2014 at 1:16

John Conde · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-08 01:18:16Z

3

Use mysqli_num_rows()

$post_run = mysqli_query($con,$query_post);
$num_posts = mysqli_num_rows($postrun);
echo "<li style = 'text-align:center; cursor:default'><h3>"."New posts".$num_posts ."</h3></li>";

edited Oct 8, 2014 at 1:18

answered Oct 8, 2014 at 1:16

John Conde

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9 Comments

Qix - MONICA WAS MISTREATED Over a year ago

You can't tell the OP to use mysql_ functions and then say don't use mysql_ functions...

John Conde Over a year ago

Yes I can. I can tell them how to solve their problem and then I can tell them a better way to do it. They get a solution and learn a better way to do it.

Kevin Over a year ago

this answer does not merit a downvote, and is correct

John Conde Over a year ago

What's funny is the real issue is that they were using mysqli the whole time. I just saw mysql since it is what we see the most here.

EternalHour Over a year ago

This has been quite the rollercoaster.

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