calling a php function in my code with clicking an image

Question

I have a php function that I like to run in my code when a particular image is clicked. Currently I'm using an onclick function in javascript but it seems like the function is run everytime I refresh the page as opposed to just when I click the image. Can you guys please help me understand this? Should I be running a AJAX script?

Answer 1

This is an "order of execution" problem: All PHP code is executed before any HTML is presented to the user. If you want PHP to execute based on a user action, you need to initiate a new request to the server (via AJAX or a standard link).

Answer 2

Why don't you just link the image to the PHP file that contains your function call?

If you want it without having to refresh the page, then you can make an asynchronous call via AJAX to the said PHP file, and perform the necessary functions.