This is how I tried to print out the path I was trying to check
//my controller
public function my_account(){
$user_id = $this->session->userdata('user_id');
//None of these methods work
//$file_path = getcwd().'/assets/img/user_id/'.$user_id.'.jpg';
//$file_path = '../../assets/img/user_img/'.$user_id.'.jpg';
//$file_path = '../assets/img/user_img/'.$user_id.'.jpg';
//$file_path = 'assets/img/user_img/'.$user_id.'.jpg';
//$file_path = realpath('assets/img/user_img/').'/'.$user_id.'.jpg';
//$file_path = FCPATH.'assets/img/user_img/'.$user_id.'.jpg';
//$file_path = $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'].'assets/img/user_img/'.$user_id.'.jpg';
$file_path = base_url('assets/img/user_img/').$user_id.'.jpg';
if(file_exists($file_path)){
$data['user_img'] = '<img src="'.$file_path.'">';;
} else {
$data['user_img'] = '<img alt="No Image" src="https://dummyimage.com/100x100/000/fff">';
}
$this->load->view('templates/header');
$this->load->view('user_pages/my_account', $data);
$this->load->view('templates/footer');
//I am using Mac osx Version 10.13.5
}