\n"; if($row['gender'] == 'male') { $output .= "male\n"; } else { $output .= "male\n"; } if($row['gender'] == 'female') { $output .= "female\n"; } else { $output .= "female\n"; } $output .= ""; echo $output; $option = "%s"; $output = ""; if($row['gender'] == 'male') { $output .= sprintf($option,"male"," selected='selected'", "male"); $output .= sprintf($option,"female","","female"); } else { $output .= sprintf($option,"male","","male"); $output .= sprintf($option,"female", " selected='selected'","female"); } $output .= ""; echo $output; ?>