PHP lesson 24: Project: a results page

What your child will learn

We are learning to plan a small PHP page that turns data into HTML.

Success looks like

• I can plan a small PHP page that turns data into HTML.
• I can use arrays, a loop, a function and form data together.
• I can test it with normal, missing and harmful input.

Key words

project · plan · test plan · edge case · user · evaluation

What to have ready

• A device with a web browser (PHP runs in the browser – nothing to install)
• Paper for tracing
• A keyboard helps for typing code (a tablet or phone works too)

The big ideas (for the adult)

Your project: a **results page**. It takes a list of names and scores, works out each grade with a function, and prints an HTML table. A ?sort= value from the form chooses the order.

Plan first: what data, which function, what HTML? Build one part at a time and run it often. Test with normal data, with a missing form value and with a name like <b>Bo</b>.

When it works, make it clear: good variable names, comments, and htmlspecialchars() on everything from outside. Your teacher or parent will judge the finished page with our checklist.

Worked example – see it

<?php
$scores = ["Maya" => 24, "Raj" => 73, "Leo" => 21];
$total = 0;
foreach ($scores as $s) {
    $total += $s;
}
echo round($total / count($scores), 1);

It prints:

39.3

The lesson, step by step

Checklist for the project (teacher or parent)

The questions in this lesson are marked by Classfern. The results page your child makes at the end is judged by you, with this checklist – it is not marked by computer. For each line, choose the description that fits best.

• Planning: the data, the function and the HTML were planned before coding
  No plan → Some parts planned → A clear plan that was followed
• It works: the results table and grades are right for the data
  Does not run → Runs, with some mistakes → Right for normal data → Right, even for missing or unusual form values
• Safe: every value from outside is checked and printed with htmlspecialchars()
  Not safe → Some values made safe → Every outside value checked and made safe
• Readable: clear names, helpful comments and tidy HTML output
  Hard to follow → Mostly clear → Clear names, comments and tidy output throughout