Index.php

<?php
                                include('config/config.php');
                                mysqli_select_db($conn, $auth_db);

                                $status= 1;

                                $stmt = $conn->prepare("SELECT name FROM characters WHERE online=?");
                                $stmt->bind_param("i", $status);
                                $stmt->execute();
                                $stmt->bind_result($charname);
                                $stmt->store_result();
                                    if($stmt->num_rows > 0) {
                                        while($stmt->fetch()) {
                                            echo $stmt->num_rows;
                                                                }
                                }
                                ?>