Many ways to remove the epidermis from a feline, but... You may want to do something equivalent (I think you're using mysqlite) to the mysql_num_rows() function on your result set as a condition to running your while loop . In pseudocode... if(mysql_num_rows($result_set) < 1){ echo out something like <p>no results</p>". }else{ your current while... loop } That way, if your query returns no results, you don't try to set the variables but you communicate that nothing was found. Best way? Maybe not. I've used it a few times and it's done the trick for me. Your mileage may vary. Rich -----Original Message----- From: J. Connolly [mailto:web@xxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2005 1:23 PM To: PHP list Subject: empty set query I have a query which can result in an empty set/ no matching records. The code I have which returns a code is: $result = mysqli_query($link, $sql); while ($query = mysqli_fetch_array($result)){ $title = $query['title']; $director = $query['director']; echo "<table><tr><td>$title</td><td> $director</td></tr></table>\n"; } If the resulting query is a empty set, which variable or item to I refence as null. I already tried if (!query) and (!$title) and neither of them work. I also tried if either of them are null. I don't need someone to give me a long explanation just a small bump as to what I should be referencing. In other words, what is it that I should reference? Should I just write a code that returns number of rows and use that? Jzf -- PHP Database Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php -- PHP Database Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php