Possible Duplicate: PHP: Notice: Undefined variable and Notice: Undefined index I have spent around

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Editorial Team

Asked: June 14, 20262026-06-14T15:10:47+00:00 2026-06-14T15:10:47+00:00

Possible Duplicate: PHP: Notice: Undefined variable and Notice: Undefined index I have spent around

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Possible Duplicate:
PHP: “Notice: Undefined variable” and “Notice: Undefined index”

I have spent around three days on this problem and have no idea how to fix it i’m getting…

Notice: Undefined index: surname in C:\xampp\htdocs\Locus.php on line 25
Notice: Undefined index: prison in C:\xampp\htdocs\Locus.php on line 26
Notice: Undefined index: NI in C:\xampp\htdocs\Locus.php on line 27
Notice: Undefined index: Q1 in C:\xampp\htdocs\Locus.php on line 28
Notice: Undefined index: Q2 in C:\xampp\htdocs\Locus.php on line 29
Notice: Undefined index: Q3 in C:\xampp\htdocs\Locus.php on line 30
Notice: Undefined index: Q4 in C:\xampp\htdocs\Locus.php on line 31
Notice: Undefined index: Q5 in C:\xampp\htdocs\Locus.php on line 32

….etc

here is my HTML…

    <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<script type="text/javascript" src="Locus.js"></script>

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />
<title>Locus of control test</title>
<link href="Locus.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />

</head>

<body>

<form action="Locus.php" id="Locus" method="post" name="Locus" onsubmit="return validateForm()"

<h4>Surname: <input type="text" name="surname"/> <br/>Prison: <input type="text" name="prison"/><br/>National Insurance: <input type="text" name="NI"/></h4>
<h3> Please carefully read all the instructions given on the left hand panel.</h3>
<h1 class="Header"> LOCUS OF CONTROL</h1>
<h2>Please click submit ONLY when all questions have been completed <br/> <input name="submit" id="submit" type="submit" value="Check & Submit" /></h2>

<p>1. I can anticipate difficulties and take action to avoid them. <br />
<input type="radio" name="Q1" value="4" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q1" value="3" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q1" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q1" value="1" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q1" value="0" /> Always Disagree
</p>


<p>2. A great deal of what happens to me is just a matter of chance.  <br />
<input type="radio" name="Q2" value="0" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q2" value="1" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q2" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q2" value="3" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q2" value="4" /> Always Disagree
</p>

<p>3. Everyone knows that luck or chance determines the future.  <br />
<input type="radio" name="Q3" value="0" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q3" value="1" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q3" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q3" value="3" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q3" value="4" /> Always Disagree
</p>

<p>4. I can control my problems only if I have outside support.  <br />
<input type="radio" name="Q4" value="0" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q4" value="1" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q4" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q4" value="3" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q4" value="4" /> Always Disagree
</p>

<p>5. When I make plans I am almost certain I can make them work. <br />
<input type="radio" name="Q5" value="4" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q5" value="3" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q5" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q5" value="1" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q5" value="0" /> Always Disagree
</p>

<p>6. My problems will dominate all my life. <br />
<input type="radio" name="Q6" value="0" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q6" value="1" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q6" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q6" value="3" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q6" value="4" /> Always Disagree
</p>

<p>7. My mistakes and problems are my responsibility to deal with. <br />
<input type="radio" name="Q7" value="4" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q7" value="3" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q7" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q7" value="1" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q7" value="0" /> Always Disagree
</p>

<p>8. Becoming a success is a matter of hard work, luck has little or nothing to do with it. <br />
<input type="radio" name="Q8" value="4" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q8" value="3" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q8" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q8" value="1" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q8" value="0" /> Always Disagree
</p>

<p>9. My life is controlled by outside actions and events.  <br />
<input type="radio" name="Q9" value="0" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q9" value="1" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q9" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q9" value="3" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q9" value="4" /> Always Disagree
</p>

<p>10. I believe people are victims of circumstances beyond their control.   <br />
<input type="radio" name="Q10" value="0" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q10" value="1" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q10" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q10" value="3" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q10" value="4" /> Always Disagree
</p>

<p>11. To continually manage my problems I need professional help. <br />
<input type="radio" name="Q11" value="0" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q11" value="1" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q11" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q11" value="3" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q11" value="4" /> Always Disagree
</p>

<p>12. When I am under stress the tightness in my muscles is due to things outside my control.<br />
<input type="radio" name="Q12" value="0" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q12" value="1" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q12" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q12" value="3" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q12" value="4" /> Always Disagree
</p>

<p>13. 1 believe a person really can be master of his own fate.<br />
<input type="radio" name="Q13" value="4" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q13" value="3" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q13" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q13" value="1" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q13" value="0" /> Always Disagree
</p>

<p>14. It is impossible to control irregular fast breathing when I am having difficulties.<br />
<input type="radio" name="Q14" value="0" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q14" value="1" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q14" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q14" value="3" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q14" value="4" /> Always Disagree
</p>

<p>15. I understand why my problems vary so much from one occasion to another. <br />
<input type="radio" name="Q15" value="4" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q15" value="3" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q15" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q15" value="1" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q15" value="0" /> Always Disagree
</p>

<p>16. I am confident of being able to deal successfully with future problems.<br />
<input type="radio" name="Q16" value="4" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q16" value="3" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q16" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q16" value="1" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q16" value="0" /> Always Disagree
</p>

<p>17. In my case maintaining control over my problems is mainly due to luck. <br />
<input type="radio" name="Q17" value="0" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q17" value="1" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q17" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q17" value="3" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q17" value="4" /> Always Disagree
</p>

<p>18. I have often been blamed for events beyond my control. <br />
<input type="radio" name="Q18" value="0" /> Always Agree <input type="radio" name="Q18" value="1" /> Agree <input type="radio" name="Q18" value="2" /> Unsure <input type="radio" name="Q18" value="3" /> Disgree <input type="radio" name="Q18" value="4" /> Always Disagree
</p>
<h5>Please click 'submit' at the start of this test</h5>
</form>
</body>
</html>

and here is my PHP ….

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"                 "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />
<link href="Locus.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />
<title>Locus Test Complete</title>
</head>

<body>
<?php
/*variable declaration*/
$username="root";
$password="";
$database_server="localhost";

/*server connection*/
$database="Locus";
mysql_connect($database_server,$username,$password) or die("cannot connect");

/*database connection*/
@mysql_select_db($database) or die( "Unable to select database");


/*create values from Locus to PHP variables*/
$Surname = $_POST['surname']; 
$Prison = $_POST['prison'];
$NI = $_POST['NI'];
$Q1 = $_POST['Q1'];
$Q2 = $_POST['Q2'];
$Q3 = $_POST['Q3'];
$Q4 = $_POST['Q4'];
$Q5 = $_POST['Q5'];
$Q6 = $_POST['Q6'];
$Q7 = $_POST['Q7'];
$Q8 = $_POST['Q8'];
$Q9 = $_POST['Q9'];
$Q10 = $_POST['Q10'];
$Q11 = $_POST['Q11'];
$Q12 = $_POST['Q12'];
$Q13 = $_POST['Q13'];
$Q14 = $_POST['Q14'];
$Q15 = $_POST['Q15'];
$Q16 = $_POST['Q16'];
$Q17 = $_POST['Q17'];
$Q18 = $_POST['Q18'];


/*assign the values to the locus of control scores table*/
$query = "INSERT INTO locus of control scores VALUES ('','$Surname','$Prison','$NI','$Q1','$Q2','$Q3','$Q4','$Q5','$Q6','$Q7','$Q8','$Q9','$Q10','$Q11','$Q12','$Q13','$Q14','$Q15','$Q16','$Q17','$Q18')";
mysql_query($query);


/*create query*/
mysql_query($query);

/*close server connection*/
mysql_close();

?>
</body>
</html>

Can anyone offer any insight as to why i’m getting these notices…?
any help would be greatly appreciated.

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1 Answer

Editorial Team · Answer 1 · 2026-06-14T15:10:48+00:00

You can’t reference keys from an array that doesn’t have them, and that’s what you’re trying to do from the $_POST array, since the request didn’t have those values posted.

To get rid of the notices, change all of your declarations where you pull values from $_POST directly from:

$Surname = $_POST['surname'];

To:

$Surname = isset( $_POST['surname']) ? $_POST['surname'] : ""; // Some default value

Also, in your code you’re inserting the same query twice it looks like. And, VDP brings up a good point, you don’t want to insert empty rows, so to fix that, you can wrap the whole logic for inserting with an if statement, check if the $_POST is empty, or check if every variable has a valid value before inserting.

Edit: OK, a more thorough explanation.

When you try to access keys from an array that the array does not have, you get this notice. So, your $_POST array is likely empty, because when you accessed the page, you didn’t submit a POST request to it, or if you did, you didn’t send the variables it’s expecting.

So $_POST looks like:

$_POST = array( );

And you’re trying to do:

$Surname = $_POST['surname']; // DOESN'T EXIST!

Clearly, you can’t do that. So, instead of directly grabbing things from $_POST, you check if that key actually exists in the $_POST array:

$Surname = isset( $_POST['surname']) ? $_POST['surname'] : "";

However, this is just shorthand for:

if( isset( $_POST['surname'])) { 
    $Surname = $_POST['surname'];
} else { 
    $Surname = "";
}

It’s called the ternary operator, and you can look it up on the PHP documentation to read more about it.

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