In this chapter, we will learn how to select data from a table.

SELECT statements retrieve selected rows. They can include UNION statements, an ordering clause, a LIMIT clause, a WHERE clause, a GROUP BY…HAVING clause, and subqueries.

Review the following general syntax −

SELECT field, field2,... FROM table_name, table_name2,... WHERE...

A SELECT statement provides multiple options for specifying the table used −

• database_name.table_name

• table_name.column_name

• database_name.table_name.column_name

All select statements must contain one or more select expressions. Select expressions consist of one of the following options −

• A column name.

• An expression employing operators and functions.

• The specification “table_name.*” to select all columns within the given table.

• The character “*” to select all columns from all tables specified in the FROM clause.

The command prompt or a PHP script can be employed in executing a select statement.

The Command Prompt

At the command prompt, execute statements as follows −

root@host# mysql -u root -p password;
Enter password:*******
mysql> use PRODUCTS;
Database changed
mysql> SELECT * from products_tbl
+-------------+---------------+
| ID_number   | Nomenclature  |
+-------------+---------------+
| 12345       | Orbitron 4000 |
+-------------+---------------+

PHP Select Script

Employ the same SELECT statement(s) within a PHP function to perform the operation. You will use the mysql_query() function once again. Review an example given below −

<?php
   $dbhost = ''localhost:3036
   $dbuser = ''root
   $dbpass = ''rootpassword
   $conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
   
   if(! $conn ) {
      die(''Could not connect: '' . mysql_error());
   }

   $sql = ''SELECT product_id, product_name,product_manufacturer, ship_date FROM products_tbl
   mysql_select_db(''PRODUCTS'');
   $retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
   
   if(! $retval ) {
      die(''Could not get data: '' . mysql_error());
   }

   while($row = mysql_fetch_array($retval, MYSQL_ASSOC)) {
      echo "Product ID :{$row[''product_id'']} <br> ".
         "Name: {$row[''product_name'']} <br> ".
         "Manufacturer: {$row[''product_manufacturer'']} <br> ".
         "Ship Date : {$row[''ship_date'']} <br>".
         "--------------------------------<br>";
   }

   echo "Fetched data successfullyn";
   mysql_close($conn);
?>

On successful data retrieval, you will see the following output −

Product ID: 12345
Nomenclature: Orbitron 4000
Manufacturer: XYZ Corp
Ship Date: 01/01/17
----------------------------------------------
Product ID: 12346
Nomenclature: Orbitron 3000
Manufacturer: XYZ Corp
Ship Date: 01/02/17
----------------------------------------------
mysql> Fetched data successfully

Best practices suggest releasing cursor memory after every SELECT statement. PHP provides the mysql_free_result() function for this purpose. Review its use as shown below −

<?php
   $dbhost = ''localhost:3036
   $dbuser = ''root
   $dbpass = ''rootpassword
   $conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
   
   if(! $conn ) {
      die(''Could not connect: '' . mysql_error());
   }

   $sql = ''SELECT product_id, product_name, product_manufacturer, ship_date FROM products_tbl
   mysql_select_db(''PRODUCTS'');
   $retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );

   if(! $retval ) {
      die(''Could not get data: '' . mysql_error());
   }

   while($row = mysql_fetch_array($retval, MYSQL_NUM)) {
      echo "Product ID :{$row[0]} <br> ".
         "Name: {$row[1]} <br> ".
         "Manufacturer: {$row[2]} <br> ".
         "Ship Date : {$row[3]} <br> ".
         "--------------------------------<br>";
   }

   mysql_free_result($retval);
   echo "Fetched data successfullyn";
   mysql_close($conn);
?>