Re: Retrieve specific data from MySQL

$lastname = (string) $_POST['lastname']; // probably want to do some sanity checks on the input // e.g. watch out for names like O'Reilly $lastname = str_replace("'","''",$lastname); // the contents of variable must be inside single quotes $sql = "SELECT * FROM table WHERE lastname='$lastname'"; // or try the SQL 'LIKE' syntax $sql = "SELECT * FROM table WHERE lastname LIKE '$lastname'"; // may be use a wildcard $sql = "SELECT * FROM table WHERE lastname LIKE '$lastname%'"; Matt Hedges wrote:

Hello, I have a basic question I can't figure out. My site lets people enter in their information... I now want to be able for a user to search the database. For example, enter in "firstname" or "lastname" in a text box, hit submit, and have the results returned. How do I write this in PHP? I've tried lots of twists on SELECT * FROM table WHERE lastname=$lastname... but can't get it to work... any help greatly appreciated, thanks, Hedges