Original form: while (@onerow = $query->fetchrow_array()) { # do something with @onerow } Alternative #1 (do-while): do { @onerow = $query->fetchrow_array(); if (@onerow) { # do something with @onerow } } while(@onerow); Alternative #2 (while without assignment in condition) @onerow = $query->fetchrow_array(); while (@onerow) { # do something with @onerow @onerow = $query->fetchrow_array(); } sample input: tak@drtak.org, TAk, secret auyeunt@arc.losrios.edu, Prof. Tak, nosecret $query = $dbh->prepare('INSERT ... '.$result[0].',,; $query->execute(); $query = $dbh->prepare('INSERT ... 'auyeunt@arc.losrios.edu',....); $query->execute();