HTML comments PHP out, but why? -

i'm trying fill select input data database. php code works, when try build html form wrecks up.

heres code (start.html):

[...] <form action="action.php" method="post">  <p>schueler:</p>  <select name="schueler">  <?php     $mysqli = new mysqli("localhost", "test", "test01", "noten");     $query = "select id, vorname, nachname schueler";     $result = $mysqli->query($query);         while($row = $result->fetch_assoc())         {             echo '<option value="' .htmlspecialchars($row['id']).'">'              .htmlspecialchars($row['vorname'])             .' '.             htmlspecialchars($row['nachname']).'</option>';         }  ?>  </select> [...] 

but on loading page this:

<form action="action.php" method="post">  <p>schueler:</p>  <select name="schueler">  <!--?php     $mysqli = new mysqli("localhost", "test", "test01", "noten");     $query = "select id, vorname, nachname schueler";     $result = $mysqli--->query($query);         while($row = $result->fetch_assoc())         {             echo '<option value="' .htmlspecialchars($row['id']).'">'              .htmlspecialchars($row['vorname'])             .' '.             htmlspecialchars($row['nachname']).'</option>';         } ?>"  </select> [...] 

as can see, problem likely, php command commented when running page. can or provide ideas?

heres code (start.html):

rename file start.php in order let server know needs parsed php interpreter.

update (following comment empty <select> element):

an empty <select> element means while() loop not execute.

take @ generated source code (command view source in browser) , possible error or warning messages expect else (inside <select> element).

if there nothing there enable reporting , displaying of errors; put error_reporting(e_all); , ini_set('display_errors', '1'); on top of script.

add code check query result (if ($result != false)) before trying fetch rows it.

it's possible connection fails. check value of $mysqli->connect_errno right after create $mysqli. if not 0 connection failed. can find reason in $mysqli->connect_error.

also make sure table schueler contains data returned query.