Question

I am using a code look like this:

<script>
  function getdata() 
  {
  var  employee = 
    <?php 
//connect to database and get employee name
    echo "'" . $row['empnm'] "'";
    ?>;
  }
</script>
<a href="#" onclick="getdata();">print them</a>

It works, but the function is running the PHP code only on the page loading and not every time I call the function. So, if the target employee name is changed the JS function will show the old name untill the page is reloaded. How to make the JS function get the data from the database everytime I call it?

Answer 1

When you first request the page, PHP renders out a whole string of html, then your browser executes that generated HTML, not the original PHP. i.e. your server is going to send something like

<script>
  function getdata() 
  {
  var  employee = 
    "hello world";
  }
</script>
<a href="#" onclick="getdata();">print them</a>

So, as far as the web browser knows, “hello world” is just hardcoded there.

You’ll need to look into AJAX for how to make it work. Check out this beginners’ tutorial on using jQuery for ajax: http://www.devirtuoso.com/2009/07/beginners-guide-to-using-ajax-with-jquery/