4. Add data (Create) 

Let’s add in a link that takes us to our create form.

<a href="create.php" class="btn btn-primary">Create New Contact</a>

See it in context:

<?php include('connect.php'); include('head.php'); ?> 
    <h1>Contact Manager</h1> 
    <a href="create.php">Create New Contact</a> 
<?php include('foot.php') ?>

This is what our screen looks like after adding the link to our form.

To add data, we will add a form. The completed code is below. Check out the “Break it down” section, immediately afterwards, to understand the various parts of the code.

In summary: The php code will test if a form has been submitted, if it has then it validates the fields of the form. If the fields pass validation, then it will create a new record, in the database, using the data from our form.

Create the file: create.php. Paste in the following code.

<?php
include('connect.php');
include('head.php');

// if form is not empty
if (!empty($_POST)) {
// retrieving data from form
    $name = $_POST['name'];
    $email = $_POST['email'];
    $phone = $_POST['phone'];
    $notes = $_POST['notes'];

// validating the data is not empty
    $valid = true;
    if (!$name) {
       echo '<script> alert("Please enter valid name"); </script>';
       $valid = false;
    }

    if (!$email) {
       echo '<script> alert("Please enter valid email"); </script>';
       $valid = false;
    }

// if valid, add the data
    if ($valid) {
       $sql = 'INSERT INTO contacts (name,email,phone,notes) VALUES (?,?,?,?)';
       $row = $connection->prepare($sql);
       $row->execute([$name, $email, $phone, $notes]);

// redirect to index echo '<script> alert("Contact added");
       window . location = "index.php" </script > ';
}
}
?>

<h1>Add Contact</h1>
<!-- after form is submitted, will be redirected to the same page and the code at the top will be executed resulting in data added and redirected to index page -->

<form action="create.php" method="post">

<label for="name">Name</label>
<input type="text" name="name" placeholder="John Doe" id="name" require> <br>

<!-- by choosing email type, a simple validation will be made by html to check if the input is in email format -->

<label for="email">Email</label>
<input type="email" name="email" placeholder="johndoe@email.com" id="email" require> <br>

<label for="phone">Phone</label>
<input type="tel" name="phone" placeholder="928174823" id="phone"> <br>

<label for="notes">Notes</label>
<input type="text" name="notes" placeholder="My Friend" id="notes"> <br>
<input type="submit" value="Create">
</form>

<?php include('foot.php') ?>

<!-- after form is submitted, will be redirected to the same page and the code at the top will be executed resulting in data added and redirected to index page --> 

<form action="create.php" method="post"> 
    <label for="name" class="form-label">Name</label> 
    <input type="text" name="name" class="form-control" placeholder="John Doe" id="name" require> 
    <br>  

    <!-- by choosing email type, a simple validation will be made by html to check if the input is in email format --> 
    
    <label for="email" class="form-label">Email</label> 
    <input type="email" name="email" class="form-control" placeholder="johndoe@email.com" id="email" require> 
    <br>  
    <label for="phone" class="form-label">Phone</label> 
    <input type="tel" name="phone" class="form-control" placeholder="928174823" id="phone"> 
    <br> 
    <label for="notes" class="form-label">Notes</label> 
    <input type="text" name="notes" class="form-control" placeholder="My Friend" id="notes"> 
    <br> 
    <input type="submit" class="mt-3 btn btn-primary" value="Create"> 
</form>

<?php 
... 

// if form is not empty 
if(!empty($_POST)){ 
    // retrieving data from form 
    $name = $_POST['name'];
    $email = $_POST['email']; 
    $phone = $_POST['phone']; 
    $notes = $_POST['notes']; 

    // validating the data is not empty 
    $valid = true; 

    if (!$name) { 
        echo '<script> alert("Please enter valid name"); </script>'; 
        $valid = false; 
    } 

    if (!$email) { 
        echo '<script> alert("Please enter valid email"); </script>'; 
        $valid = false; 
    } 
}

... 

?>

<?php 
... 

    // if valid, add the data 
    if ($valid) { 
        $sql = 'INSERT INTO contacts (name,email,phone,notes) VALUES (?,?,?,?)'; 
        $row = $connection->prepare($sql); 
        $row->execute([$name, $email, $phone, $notes]); // redirect to index 
        echo '<script> alert("Contact added"); window.location="index.php" </script>'; 
     } 
}
?>

Now, after you click the Create New Contact link, you should see this form

If you submit it, there’ll be a confirmation and you’ll be directed to index with your newly added data