Question

now i use this code:

$welcome_text = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM `text` WHERE `name` = 'welcome'");
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($welcome_text, MYSQL_ASSOC)) {
 echo $row['content'];
}

Is it possible to use it without WHILE if i know exactly which one column i need?
Something like this:

$welcome_text = mysql_query("SELECT 'content' FROM `text` WHERE `name` = 'welcome'");
echo $welcome_text;

Thanks

Answer 1

mysql_query makes the query, returns a result set.

mysql_fetch_array fetches the first row from the result set.

$welcome_text = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM `text` WHERE `name` = 'welcome'");
$row = mysql_fetch_array($welcome_text, MYSQL_ASSOC);
echo $row['content'];

Of course, you can shorten your code if you want, but this may make your code more difficult to debug and maintain.

Verbose, clear code > one-liner ‘show-off’ code.

Including ‘just-in-case’ checking:

$welcome_text = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM `text` WHERE `name` = 'welcome'");
if($row = mysql_fetch_array($welcome_text, MYSQL_ASSOC)){
    echo $row['content'];
}

Good practice to make doubly sure you have what you need before printing it.

Finally, please make sure you sanitize user-submitted data before it goes into your database. If you’re not going to use prepared statements, at least use mysql_real_escape_string.

Practice safe SQL, wear a prepared statement to prevent SQL Injections.