Question

I want to query a table in a mysql database and display the results in a list format like this:

A – G, H-p, Q-z

So all results with the first letter of their name starting with A to G will display under A – G and so on.

What is the best way to do this in php? can it all be done in the query itself? Or will I have to sort it in the php.

Got any examples of something similar?

Answer 1

You can do it in SQL:

SELECT * FROM table WHERE name < 'H';
SELECT * FROM table WHERE name >= 'H' AND name < 'P';
SELECT * FROM table WHERE name >= 'P';

Or, in one query,

SELECT *, 
    CASE 
        WHEN name < 'H' THEN 'A-G' 
        WHEN name >= 'H' AND name < 'P' THEN 'H-P' 
        ELSE 'Q-Z' 
    END AS category
FROM table ORDER BY name;