Php simple foreach loop with HTML

php

foreach-loop

html-table

conditional-formatting

byNikita Barsukov·Jan 16, 2025

Quickly generate an HTML list from an array with PHP. Combine a foreach loop with HTML markup:

<?php $items = ['Apple', 'Banana', 'Cherry']; ?>

<ul>
<?php foreach ($items as $item): ?>
  <!-- Each apple a day, keeps the doctor away! -->
  <li><?= htmlspecialchars($item) ?></li>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</ul>

This creates a list item (<li>) for each element in $items, using htmlspecialchars to prevent any sneaky security issues.

Dealing with conditionals

Nothing is truly simple. Sometimes you need conditional formatting for your items. For example, if you really like bananas:

<ul>
<?php foreach ($items as $item): ?>
  <!-- The special one -->
  <li class="<?= $item == 'Banana' ? 'highlight' : '' ?>">
    <?= htmlspecialchars($item) ?>
  </li>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</ul>

A conditional class has been added to a list item based on the item's value.

The associative array dance

Much like a good dance partner, foreach loops work well with associative arrays allowing access to both the key and value:

<?php $fruits = ['apple' => 'red', 'banana' => 'yellow', 'cherry' => 'dark red']; ?>

<ul>
<?php foreach ($fruits as $fruit => $color): ?>
  <!-- It's all about the color of the dance -->
  <li>
    <strong><?= ucfirst($fruit) ?>:</strong> <?= $color ?>
  </li>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</ul>

Your dance card (<ul>) now describes the type and color of each fruit dancing at the ball.

From simply list to HTML table

Let's dress our foreach for a spiffy occasion. When presenting database results, for instance, a foreach dressed in a HTML table can impress:

<?php
// Wearing the latest fashion in $users array from a database
?>
<table>
<tr>
    <th>Name</th>
    <th>Email</th>
</tr>
<?php foreach ($users as $user): ?>
<tr>
    <!-- Be ready paparazzis -->
    <td><?= htmlspecialchars($user->name) ?></td>
    <td><?= htmlspecialchars($user->email) ?></td>
</tr>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</table>

Dressed up, our loop walks down the aisle, each row shining with user data.

The practicality of foreach comes to the fore in dynamically populating dropdown menus:

<select name="fruit">
<?php foreach ($fruits as $fruit => $color): ?>
  <!-- Let's play catch and throw with options -->
  <option value="<?= $fruit ?>">
    <?= ucfirst($fruit) ?>
  </option>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</select>

This select element juggles options for each fruit, with the fruit name as display text.

Guarding against exceptions

Life isn't always a bowl of cherries. Facing empty arrays or invalid iterators outright can help prevent a white screen of death:

<?php if (!empty($items)): ?>
<ul>
    <?php foreach ($items as $item): ?>
    <!-- Accepting reality as it is -->
    <li><?= htmlspecialchars($item) ?></li>
    <?php endforeach; ?>
</ul>
<?php else: ?>
<!-- An echo of empty value, silence in the abyss -->
<p>No items found.</p>
<?php endif; ?>