$sql = 'SELECT search_terms FROM `mint_visit` WHERE search_terms =\'holograms\' ORDER BY search_terms ASC';// . $min . ',' . $max ;$result = mysql_query($sql);// foreach(mysql_fetch_array($result) as $term) { you iterate over an array which got returned by *ONE* call to _fetch_arraywhile ( $term = mysql_fetch_array($result)) { // it does not ``check if $term equals fetched stuff, rather, it performs assignment of return of _fetch_array, and then proceeds with loop if return value is not FALSE (nor NULL nor empty) echo $term . '<br>';}