Store an array into MySQL - mysql

Question

I need to store two values ​​in the same column. These are the code and name, separated by a hyphen. How can I do this using this array?
'name'=> $data['code']['name']
I read about serialization, but I do not see how to implement it here.
public function addProduct($code, $name, $photo, $data = array())
{
if($photo == NULL) {
// Product data
$productData = array(
'code' => $data['code'],
'name' => $data['name'],
'category_id' => $data['category_id'],
'subcategory_id' => $data['subcategory_id'],
);
} else {
// Product data
$productData = array(
'code' => $data['code'],
'name' => $data['name'],
'category_id' => $data['category_id'],
'subcategory_id' => $data['subcategory_id'],
'image' => $photo
);
}
if($this->db->insert('products', $productData)) {
return true;
} else {
return false;
}
}

Answer 1

If I understand correctly, I think you want this:
'name' => serialize(array('code'=>$data['code'], 'name'=>$data['name']))
Then to retrieve it you can simply
$data = unserialize($res['name']);
echo $data['code']."-".$data['name'];
You can also use json_encode() and json_decode() in lou of serialize() and unserialize(). The benefit of using JSON is you can decode it with other languages like JavaScript whereas seialize() is a PHP-specific function.

Answer 2

There's 2 methods in CodeIgniter to insert data in the database.
1st Method: normal SQL query
public function addProduct($code, $name, $photo, $data = array()){
$sql = "";
if($photo == null){
// Product data
$d_code = isset($data['code']) ? $this->db->escape($data['code']) : '';
$d_name = isset($data['name']) ? $this->db->escape($data['name']) : '';
$d_category_id = isset($data['category_id']) ? $this->db->escape($data['category_id']) : '';
$d_subcategory_id = isset($data['subcategory_id']) ? $this->db->escape($data['subcategory_id']) : '';
$sql = "INSERT INTO mytable (code, name, category_id, subcategory_id) ";
$sql .= "VALUES ('" . $d_code . "', '" . $d_name . "', '" . $d_category_id . "', '" . $d_subcategory_id . "')";
} else {
// Product data
$d_code = isset($data['code']) ? $this->db->escape($data['code']) : '';
$d_name = isset($data['name']) ? $this->db->escape($data['name']) : '';
$d_category_id = isset($data['category_id']) ? $this->db->escape($data['category_id']) : '';
$d_subcategory_id = isset($data['subcategory_id']) ? $this->db->escape($data['subcategory_id']) : '';
$d_image = isset($photo) ? $this->db->escape($photo) : '';
$sql = "INSERT INTO mytable (code, name, category_id, subcategory_id, image) ";
$sql .= "VALUES ('" . $d_code . "', '" . $d_name . "', '" . $d_category_id . "', '" . $d_subcategory_id . "', '" . $d_image . "')";
}
$this->db->query($sql);
if($this->db->affected_rows() > 0){
return true;
} else {
return false;
}
}
2nd Method: ActiveRecord
public function addProduct($code, $name, $photo, $data = array()){
if($photo == null){
// Product data
$d_code = isset($data['code']) ? $this->db->escape($data['code']) : '';
$d_name = isset($data['name']) ? $this->db->escape($data['name']) : '';
$d_category_id = isset($data['category_id']) ? $this->db->escape($data['category_id']) : '';
$d_subcategory_id = isset($data['subcategory_id']) ? $this->db->escape($data['subcategory_id']) : '';
$dataArr = array(
'code' => $d_code,
'name' => $d_name,
'category_id' => $d_category_id,
'subcategory_id' => $d_subcategory_id
);
} else {
// Product data
$d_code = isset($data['code']) ? $this->db->escape($data['code']) : '';
$d_name = isset($data['name']) ? $this->db->escape($data['name']) : '';
$d_category_id = isset($data['category_id']) ? $this->db->escape($data['category_id']) : '';
$d_subcategory_id = isset($data['subcategory_id']) ? $this->db->escape($data['subcategory_id']) : '';
$d_image = isset($photo) ? $this->db->escape($photo) : '';
$dataArr = array(
'code' => $d_code,
'name' => $d_name,
'category_id' => $d_category_id,
'subcategory_id' => $d_subcategory_id,
'image' => $d_image
);
}
$this->db->insert('mytable', $dataArr);
if($this->db->affected_rows() > 0){
return true;
} else {
return false;
}
}
Notes
Keep in mind that in both ways you should have the exact structure in the MySQL database. Otherwise you'll have errors such as "column not found" etc.
On another hand, you can't store an array in MySQL, but you can store a comma-separated value (CSV) string, although it's not recommended at all:
$dataArr = array(
$d_code,
$d_name,
$d_category_id,
$d_subcategory_id
);
$csv = implode(",", $dataArr);
This solution will cause problems if any of the data provided contains a comma.
Why you shouldn't store a CSV in a MySQL row:
every piece of information should be treated and saved on its own.
searching within the data will be impossible using MySQL.
forget about "indexing". It's useless in this case. Also, forget about query optimization.
you're looking for a specific piece of information, then you should probably query all the table and loop over this information to get the data you're looking for.
no developers will understand your move.
it'll definitely cause you problems in CodeIgniter, especially in the ActiveRecord methods.
it's really easy to insert/select/update/delete info from the database in CodeIgniter: link
if it's the first time you're working on CodeIgniter, then take a few more minutes reading the docs and learn it well. Doing awful hacks won't help anyone and especially you, because you'll end up with bugs and a messy code.