(refactor): following core/query_functions approach + (feature): implemented dynamic featured footer section

htdocs/core/query_functions.php

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+<?php
+
+//function to create an array of all unique project years
+function create_project_years_array($conn) {
+    $sql = "SELECT DISTINCT year FROM projects ORDER BY year DESC";
+    $result = $conn -> query($sql);
+
+    if ($result) {
+        $years = array();
+        while ($row = $result -> fetch_assoc()) {
+            $years[] = $row['year'];
+        }
+
+        return $years;
+    }
+}
+
+//function to fetch all projects of the given year
+function fetch_projects_by_year($conn, $year) {
+    $sql = "SELECT * FROM projects WHERE year = $year ORDER BY id DESC";
+    $result = $conn -> query($sql);
+    return $result;
+}
+
+//function to fetch top 2 featured projects for sidebar
+function fetch_featured_projects($conn) {
+    $sql = "SELECT * FROM featured_projects";
+    $result = $conn -> query($sql);
+    return $result;
+}
+?>