How to save user survey responses to open-ended questions? - mysql

Question

I am designing a MySQL database for storing profiles and user responses to questions from these profiles. Data from the database is needed to create a json objects. We are developing a REST API.
The user fills in the data (name,email, position,tel ...) and thus receives user.id. Then answers survey questions. As a result, user responses are stored in the answer table.
User's response can be prepared in advance in the options table (closed-ended questions). Or maybe not prepared (open-ended questions). Therefore, in addition to the table answer_options, which contains the user's choice of answers (many-to-many), the tableanswer contains the following fields:
text (answer to the question as text),
num (answer to the question as a number),
yn (answer to the question as a boolean type).
The table input_types contains the type of the html element (for example,<input type = "text" />.
The table insert_types contains the name of the field in the table answer (yn,text, num oroptions).
API returns questions as an JSON object:
{
"id": 1,
"label": "Annual turnover of the company?",
"placeholder": "Enter a number",
"required": true,
"input_type": {
"name": "text"
},
"insert_type": {
"name": "num"
}
}
Front-end looks at insert_type send an JSON object relying on it to answer the question:
{
"user": 1,
"question": 1,
"num": 100
}
API recives an object and saves it in the answer table (thenum property is saved in answer.num)
I don't like the fact that the front-end has to concern about insert_type. How is it customary to save user survey responses to open-ended questions?

Answer 1

I had a similar project before. What I did was add user's open ended answers to options table as well, and use the answer_options table for all the answer.
For the front end, it can always send the answer value without specifying the insert type. The backend can find the option_id for close ended questions, or insert the answer for open ended questions and get the option_id. Just for your reference.