error in mysqli_fetch_assoc()

[M. Masters]

php=8.3.xx
mysql=8.0.xx
MysqlI Support = enabled
Client API library version = mysqlnd 8.3.27

Getting back into php/mysql after 2 decades with cf/sqlserver.

database connecting, selecting, ordering is fine

Display error when I want to draw a table of first/last names

display code fails at this line

while($row = $result->mysqli_fetch_assoc())


Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to a member function mysqli_fetch_assoc() on string in.....

Been on google for hours. Now here. :(

Thanks