Using MySQL with Perl Please also see our dedicated
mySQL FAQ
Overview
What you need
Connecting
Basic Queries
Advanced Queries
Table Joins
Tips and Functions
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Overview
MySQL is the world's most popular open source, binary database server. It is capable of supporting over 50,000,000 records. SQL (Structured Query Language) is the language used to communicate with the MySQL server. With the aid of this tutorial, you will learn how to build a RDBMS (Relational DataBase Management System). Table Joins, are the key to building efficient databases and harnessing the essential power of MySQL. Without table joins, a complex relational database will be as slow as a standard flat file database. PerlScripts JavaScripts.com will teach you how to utilise table joins and greatly increase the speed of your database queries. PerlScripts JavaScripts.com has taught lead programmers of other programming firms how to utilize the true power of MySQL.
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What you need
You will need a web host that offers access to a MySQL server. Most hosts offer some sort of control panel, allowing you to set up and create your databases. If you need MySQL hosting, we have MySQL enabled plans from as little as $9.12. Once you have a host, you will need to ask them for certain information or use your control panel to create a database. Our Basic hosting plan ($9.12/mo) allows you to create up to 3 databases. The information you need is :
Path to the server
Database name
Username
Password
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Connecting to the DB Server
Connecting to the database is easy. First you must load the MySQL module. Near the top of your script add this code :
use Mysql;
The line above will load the module ( or class of predefined subroutines ) named Mysql.pm into your script. To make database connections quick and easy, place your login details into a set of variables. These variables will be passed as arguments to the connect subroutine and should be declared near the top of your script or before using the connect command.
$DBHOST = "localhost";
$DBNAME = "mydatabase";
$DBUSER = "perlscripts";
$DBPASS = "ywe6ywnq";
You now need to begin constructing what is known as an object. Below is an example of how to utilize the connect subroutine.
$DB = Mysql->connect($DBHOST, $DBNAME, $DBUSER, $DBPASS);
Once the above code is executed, assuming the login details are correct, you are connected to the MySQL server. For demonstration purposes only, the code below could be used to select and print the first 100 records from a table named "employees".
$DB = Mysql->connect($DBHOST, $DBNAME, $DBUSER, $DBPASS);
$qry = qq~SELECT * FROM employees WHERE id < 100~;
while( @emps = $qry->fetchrow) {
print qq~
$emps[0], $emps[1], $emps[2] <br>
~;
}
The code above, when translated into English, says "Connect to the server, select all columns from the table named employees where id is less than 100, then while the data is placed into an array called emps using the fetchrow method, print columns 1, 2 and 3 then a line break."
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Basic Queries
Some of the more popular queries are the easiest to execute, but can also be the most dangerous. For example, to delete a record, you might use :
DELETE FROM employees WHERE age > 35
However, if you forgot to enter a WHERE clause and condition, you would delete the entire table.
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Advanced Queries
Advanced queries should be used in preference to extracting data then formatting it using another language. Many programmers either do not have the knowledge or just do not understand the power and speed of MySQL. The MySQL server is all about speed and efficiency. Manipulate and format the data as much as possible using MySQL before passing it on to Perl or PHP. Use built in functions and nested functions to achieve your desired result. In most cases, you will be able to extract all necessary records from all tables in one call to the database.
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Table Joins
Table Joins are by far the most useful function on large and complex databases. They allow you to select and retrieve records from multiple tables in one action. When selecting records from multiple tables, you must use a common denominator other wise many more records than you expected will be returned. There must a column name common to two or more tables. Let's assume we have two tables with the following structure :
Table 1
employees
Columns
id
firstname
lastname
address
Table 2
salary
Columns
id
hourly
ssn
Note that the common column is the id column. Your where clause must contain a common column, otherwise more records than you expect will be returned. In the following select statement, each table is separated by a comma. We are selecting all columns (denoted by an asterisk *) where the id is identical in both tables.
SELECT * FROM employees, salary WHERE employees.id = salary.id &&
employees.firstname = 'Grayson'
In the example above, column names are preceded by table names to avoid confusion. Strings (as opposed to integers) must be quoted. The id is an integer (a whole number) so it does not need to be quoted. The first name is a string, so it must be quoted. Note that the common column is the id. Without the id check (employees.id = salary.id), all records from both tables that contain the string 'Grayson' would be returned.
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MySQL Tips and Functions
Note : not all databases servers support all functions, many depend on the version your server is running. There are hundreds of functions that can be used alone or nested within one another. You really should buy a book for a complete reference.
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