1. declare a variable 2. create validation for it and test then create another and test $firstname = $_POST['first_name']; if empty($firstname) { echo "please include your first name"; } then add the next variables... create variable, create validation, test.. if ((!empty($_POST['username'])) && (!empty ($_POST['password']))) { if (($_POST['username'] == 'testing') && ($_POST['password'] == 'testpass')) {// username and password match