Question

I have a database table containing a ‘key’ field which holds a system generated key.

| id | key                 | etc.
|====|=====================|================= 
|  1 | osi32i4kjwlqe       |
|----|---------------------|-----------------
|  2 | klwjeklj1343k       |
|----|---------------------|-----------------
|  3 | dfk32ld32ll23       |
|----|---------------------|----------------
|  4 | lk3jkl3j42lk4       |
--------------------------------------------

In addition, I have a list of keys:

{'osi32i4kjwlqe','ksadalala12','klwjeklj1343k','dfk32ld32ll23','lk3jkl3j42lk4','askalksl56'}

Note, that some of the keys on the list exist in the database, and others do not.

I would like, if I can, to run an efficient query that will go through the list, and affirm the existence of the key in the database.

ie: if the key exists, do nothing. if it doesn’t, insert a fresh row with this key.

Does anybody know of an efficient way to do it?

Thank you.

Answer 1

I assume that your key column is declared with UNIQUE. If so, just loop and use

INSERT IGNORE INTO table ...

for each of your keys from JSON array. If not, well, make so as I think this is what you want to accomplish anyway 🙂