Question

SELECT id, CONCAT(lastname,', ',firstname) AS fullname, lastname, firstname
                   FROM " . TABLE_CONTACT . "
                   WHERE  
                     CONCAT(firstname,' ', lastname) LIKE '%$goTo%' OR
                     CONCAT(firstname,' ', middlename,' ', lastname) LIKE '%$goTo%' OR
                     nickname LIKE '%$goTo%' 
                     ORDER BY fullname";

Can anyone please tell me what is purpose of above query ? I am new to mysql so unable to understand it. Thanks

Answer 1

It will query the DB and get the id and create a full name CONCAT(lastname,', ',firstname) from both first and last name fields and also return them separately lastname, firstname
FROM the contacts table TABLE_CONTACT
WHERE the variable passed %$goTo% should match:

Imagine this record in the DB:

id      firstname       lastname        middlaname      nickname
5454    Ibrahim         Faour           Ali             ifaour

1- CONCAT(firstname,' ', lastname) = Ibrahim Faour
2- OR CONCAT(firstname,' ', middlename,' ', lastname) = Ibrahim Ali Faour
3- nickname = ifaour

And them order them by the newly created column fullname