SQL Delete Syntax Error, also some PHP and Jquery

Question

I have a database table named 'favoritecats' with the following fields:

• id
• catName
• catId

I am using Jquery to run this function on click event of an element on DOM Ready.

// Delete a Favorite Category from SQL Database
    $('.deleteCatFavs').click(function(){      // On click of .deleteCatFavs
    var actionRequested = "AJAX_delFavCat";    // My Personal PHP Controller Identifier
    var url = "index.php";                     // URL to post to

// Now Im getting the data I want to post into variables.
    var catId = $("input[name=FavCats]:checked").val();
    var rowId = $("input[name=FavCats]:checked").attr("id");

// Now we make the post
    $.post(url, {AJAX_Action: actionRequested, rowId: rowId},
        function(data){
            $("#favCats").fadeIn().html(data);
           });
    });

This all Works Fine,

But below I have the PHP Code to delete the selected rowId from above from the database. Here is where im having the issue, Im sure its a SQL error.

public function AJAX_delFavCat(){

$rowId = isset($_POST['rowId'])?$_POST['rowId']:''; // Get Posted Variable
// Below, I want to delete the posted rowId, from the DB,
$this->database->query("DELETE FROM 'favoritecats' WHERE id='$rowId'");

// My personal Loaders, I need help with the delete query above!!
$data = $this->database->query("SELECT * FROM favoritecats");
$this->load->view('Ajax_addToFavCats.php', $data, $ajax=1);

} // End

The "DELETE FROM 'favoritecats' WHERE id='$rowId'" doesn't work, what am I doing wrong?

[EDIT]
I get the following error through SQL: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near ''favoritecats' WHERE id='27'' at line 1

Also, How would I write a Jquery function using the $.ajax method instead of the $.post method im using now, does it really make a difference?

Answer 1

what am I doing wrong?

You've got a SQL-injection security hole.
See: How does the SQL injection from the "Bobby Tables" XKCD comic work?

Change this

$rowId = isset($_POST['rowId'])?$_POST['rowId']:''; // Get Posted Variable
// Below, I want to delete the posted rowId, from the DB,
$this->database->query("DELETE FROM 'favoritecats' WHERE id='$rowId'");

To this

$rowId = isset($_POST['rowId'])?$_POST['rowId']:''; // Get Posted Variable
$rowId = mysql_real_escape_string($rowId);
// Below, I want to delete the posted rowId, from the DB,
$this->database->query("DELETE FROM `favoritecats` WHERE id='$rowId'");

To properly escape your inputs.

Back to your question

$this->database->query("DELETE FROM `favoritecats` WHERE id='$rowId'");

Will fix your error.
Note the use of backticks around tablenames, Normal quotes are not allowed and are in fact a syntax error.