Pagination is a critical technique when dealing with large datasets in web applications. It allows you to efficiently display data by breaking it into smaller, more manageable chunks. This guide will walk you through the process of implementing pagination in PHP step-by-step.

Benefits of Pagination

• Enhanced Performance: Reduces server load and improves page speed.

• User-Friendly Navigation: Helps users find data quickly and efficiently.

• Organized Data Display: Structures data into easily digestible pages.

Prerequisites

• Basic understanding of PHP.

• Access to a MySQL or compatible database.

Step-by-Step Implementation

1. Establish Database Connection

   $host = 'localhost';
   $db = 'example_db';
   $user = 'root';
   $pass = '';
   
   $conn = new mysqli($host, $user, $pass, $db);
   
   if ($conn->connect_error) {
       die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error);
   }

    

2. Calculate the Total Number of Records

   $result = $conn->query("SELECT COUNT(*) AS total FROM items");
   $row = $result->fetch_assoc();
   $total_records = $row['total'];

    

3. Define Pagination Variables

   $limit = 10; // Number of records per page
   $page = isset($_GET['page']) ? $_GET['page'] : 1;
   $start = ($page - 1) * $limit;

    

4. Fetch Data for the Current Page

   $sql = "SELECT * FROM items LIMIT $start, $limit";
   $result = $conn->query($sql);

    

5. Display the Data

   while ($row = $result->fetch_assoc()) {
       echo "<p>" . htmlspecialchars($row['item_name']) . "</p>";
   }

    

6. Generate Pagination Links

   $total_pages = ceil($total_records / $limit);
   
   for ($i = 1; $i <= $total_pages; $i++) {
       echo "<a href='?page=$i'>$i</a> ";
   }

    

Conclusion

By following this guide, you can implement pagination in PHP to efficiently handle large datasets. This approach not only boosts performance but also enhances user experience by presenting data in a clear and organized manner.