Entries tagged "PHP"
Minimizing MySQL Queries with the implode() Function
After seeing the many warnings that MySQL queries shouldn't be executed within loops, I finally broke down and figured out an alternate solution for the majority of queries where I use loops. Most times, a loop feels necessary when one database table contains the core information and another has multiple entries of supporting information. Instead of going for the typically loop, let's look at using the implode() function. [Continue reading]
Building the Where Clause for MySQL Dynamically
There are a number of ways to dynamically build the WHERE clause for a MySQL query. You could, for example, run several if() statements in the middle of a query. Or one could tap into the power of the implode() function. [Continue reading]
Going Live with Incomplete Code; Is It Okay?
Even though it isn't required, should code be left incomplete? For example, the last property/value pair in a CSS declaration doesn't need a semi-colon. The code validates and functions normally. So why worry about that last character? [Continue reading]
Sorting Complicated Lists with PHP When A Database Isn’t Necessary
Websites commonly have content that's sorted in some fashion. For larger projects, utilizing a database may be optimal. But what about those smaller projects? When displaying a short list of advisory board members, for example, I typically go straight to HTML and my grand knowledge of the ABCs. That may work in the short run, but eventually mistakes happen. We can minimize the risk by leveraging PHP for sorting complicated lists. [Continue reading]
Making It Easy to Locate and Remove Test Code
When troubleshooting, sometimes it's necessary to add code to test various features. The problem is that the code may accidentally be left in when going live. Removing the extra code as you go may work in most situations. Or maybe you just know where the test code is located and removing it doesn't seem like a problem. However, what happens if you're pulled away from the task by some other emergency or deadline? Over time, the test code you were so familiar with may not be as obvious. Instead of depending on memory, here are some options for making test code stand out. [Continue reading]
Formatting Dates within the MySQL Query
Before displaying dates from a MySQL database, do you change the format? If so, how are you formatting those dates? For me, I typically went straight to PHP for the answer. That is until it was brought to my attention that MySQL has a built in function for formatting dates. Let's talk about the date_format() function. [Continue reading]
Troubleshooting with var_dump()
When code doesn't perform properly, checking that the variables contain what you expect is an important step in solving the problem. Was the value ever assigned to the variable? Does the variable still contain the value? Is the value formatted for the given the scenario? Let's look at some options for finding out. [Continue reading]
Simple Bar Graphs Made Dynamic with PHP
The simple bar graph shown last week could be utilized to generate charts on the fly. This is great for showing responses from an online survey and other data collection methods. All that's needed is a scripting language such as PHP and direct access to the data. [Continue reading]
Naming Your HTML Form Fields with an Associative Array
When using database entries to dynamically build HTML forms, how do you go about naming the form fields? Do you name them "Field1", "Field2′, etc.? Or do you have a more efficient way to access the fields when processing the form submissions? If you haven't tried using an array as the name, you may be missing out. [Continue reading]
Make Sure Those Passed IDs Contain Numbers
When passing row IDs between pages, it's a good idea to check the value is what you expect. Values which could be tampered with by the user need to validated and sanitized. So, if an ID is supposed to be a number, we should make sure it is before running the database query. Let's discuss some options for checking for numbers. [Continue reading]
