PHP failing to show error messages

Question

I wrote some code as a start for a username and password registration page but i cant get the first bit to work. The page with the forms corresponding to the variables at the top work fine but when redirected to this page it just gives a blank white page.

I seem to get this error every time i write some code that is not just basic echo or something like that... Can someone tell me what is wrong with the code and is there any good php editor where you can see error messages or somethilng like that?

This is not the first time i get the same blank page error and i would love to know what i'm doing wrong.

<?php
$user = $_POST["username"];
$pass = $_POST["password"];
$conf_pass = $_POST["conf_password"];

$con = mysql_connect("localhost", "webuser1", "12345");
if (!$con) {
  die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}

if($pass != $conf_pass) {
  echo ("passwords don't match, <a href="./reg_form.php">return</a>");
}



mysql_close($con);

?>

@ghbarratt giving a link to the manual is nice when you suggest a function. php.net/manual/en/function.error-reporting.php — Bazzz
– Bazzz, Commented Mar 8, 2012 at 8:24
Perhaps a better title would be "PHP failing to show error messages" or something along those lines — ose
– ose, Commented Mar 8, 2012 at 8:26
In your above code, if the mysql connection is successful and the passwords do match, I would expect a white page. Because if those conditions are satisfied, you are not outputting anything {Edit, unless the above code fragment is only a part of the page] — Ayush
– Ayush, Commented Mar 8, 2012 at 8:28

MrCode · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-08 08:30:10Z

2

A blank white page often indicates a 500 Internet Server Error, which usually means you have a syntax or other error in your code.

In your case the error is in the quotes, try changing to:

 echo ("passwords don't match, <a href='./reg_form.php'>return</a>");

I suggest turning on error reporting in your code, or you can check your error log, this will tell you what the problem is and the line number.

error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set('display_errors', '1');

Also, if using Firebug, you can see the 500 Internal Server Error on the Net tab.

answered Mar 8, 2012 at 8:30

MrCode

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1 Comment

Sergei Over a year ago

it seems the error was in the quotes, i feel a little stupid now. thank you anyway

ose · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-08 08:26:19Z

1

You can set the errors to show using:

ini_set("display_errors", 1);

answered Mar 8, 2012 at 8:26

ose

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Comments

Starx · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-08 08:28:00Z

0

There are errors occurring on your code. To see what error is being generated. Use this command on the top of your page.

error_reporting(E_ALL);

answered Mar 8, 2012 at 8:28

Starx

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Comments

user412582 · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-08 08:35:47Z

0

Get an editor with syntax highlighting and errors like this will stand out. Some like Zend Studio also check for syntax errors.

answered Mar 8, 2012 at 8:35

user412582

Comments

ghbarratt · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-08 08:37:11Z

0

echo ("passwords don't match, <a href="./reg_form.php">return</a>");

creates the following error:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '/' in ...

Try changing that line to:

echo 'passwords don\'t match, <a href="/reg_form.php">return</a>';

error_reporting could have revealed this to you (as I suggested in the first comment).

edited Mar 8, 2012 at 8:37

answered Mar 8, 2012 at 8:26

ghbarratt

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