Iterating Through Multiple PHP Variables, Assigning Values To Each For SQL Statement -

so been searching around , not sure regarding question. basically, wanting have going on in code (i have ingredient variables hardcoded), instead create single loop iterate through , assign available ingredients corresponding variable , update sql record accordingly. what's best way go this?

i want make more efficient, don't end empty columns in sql db, instead leave null in database if ingredient strings empty in url api, consists of ingredients.php?ingredient[]=apple&ingredient[]=pepper&ingredient[]=.....

$ingredients = $_get['ingredient'];     $ingredient1 = $ingredients[0];     $ingredient2 = $ingredients[1];     $ingredient3 = $ingredients[2];     $ingredient4 = $ingredients[3];     $ingredient5 = $ingredients[4];     $ingredient6 = $ingredients[5];     $ingredient7 = $ingredients[6];     $ingredient8 = $ingredients[7];     $ingredient9 = $ingredients[8];     $ingredient10 = $ingredients[9];     $ingredient11 = $ingredients[10];     $ingredient12 = $ingredients[11];     $ingredient13 = $ingredients[12];     $ingredient14 = $ingredients[13];     $ingredient15 = $ingredients[14]; $wait_time = $_get['wait_time'];  $query = "insert menu_items (rest_id,item_name,item_genre,item_price,item_descript,ingredient1,ingredient2,ingredient3,ingredient4,ingredient5,ingredient6,ingredient7,ingredient8,ingredient9,ingredient10,ingredient11,ingredient12,ingredient13,ingredient14,ingredient15,wait_time) values (?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?)";  $stmt =  $mysqli->prepare($query);     if ($stmt) {         $stmt->bind_param('issdssssssssssssssssi',$rest_id,$item_name,$item_genre,$item_price,$item_descript,$ingredient1,$ingredient2,$ingredient3,$ingredient4,$ingredient5,$ingredient6,$ingredient7,$ingredient8,$ingredient9,$ingredient10,$ingredient11,$ingredient12,$ingredient13,$ingredient14,$ingredient15,$wait_time);         $stmt->execute();             echo json_encode(array('itemid' => $mysqli->insert_id, 'error' => $mysqli->error));         $stmt->close();     } else {         echo json_encode(array('itemid' => null, 'error' => $mysqli->error));     } 

since have separate table ingredients, can create simple junction table. here example of design

id |  menuid | ingredientid ----------------------------  1 |    1    |     2  2 |    1    |     3 

where menuid fk menu table , ingredientid fk ingredients db. above example means have menu id, contains ingredient 2 , 3. id column optional. feel free remove if don't need it.

then, set select box ingredients has next html result

<option value="2">pepper</option> <option value="3">beef</option> 

you can selecting both id , name ingredients table, , use id value field.

now, @ php, send items values filled in. (so not send 15 if 4 got chosen. send 4)

$ingredients = $_get['ingredient']; // insert menu item (not sure if it's part of ajax ...) $newmenuquery = "insert menu_items (rest_id,item_name,item_genre,item_price,item_descript,wait_time) values (?,?,?,?,?,?)"; // query insert junction table $newingredients = "insert menuhasingredients values (?, ?)";  // prepare statement menu $stmtmenu = $db->prepare($newmenuquery);  // insert menu $stmtmenu->bind_param('issdsi',$rest_id,$item_name,$item_genre,$item_price,$item_descript,$wait_time); $stmtmenu->execute(); // inserted id (insert_id gives last id given $newid = $db->insert_id; // close connection $stmtmenu->close();  // check if success if($newid) {     // prepare statement ingredients     $stmtingredients = $db->prepare($newingredients);     // use junction table     $count = count($ingredients);     for($i = 0; $i < $count; $i++) {         $stmtingredients->bind_param('ii', $newid, $ingredients[$i]);         $stmtingredients->execute();     }     // handle return or error      // close connection     $stmtingredients->close(); } else {    // send error menu inserting has failed } // close connection 

please check bindparam string notation @ both queries. might have missed or entered incorrect character.

however, if have used pdo, things more easier. should fine above.