E-commerce database question
Hi all,
I don’t know if this is the right place to post this, if it’s not could someone point me in the right direction.
I am building an e-commerce web site and have a few questions I can’t find answers too.
If I use a PHP script for a customer to add their e-mail address to a mailing list, how would I store this info. Would it be on a MYSQL database (hosted on a Linux server) or another database type? How would the database be created?
Same sort of question, if I used a PHP shopping cart, what sort of database would I use to record sales details and how would it be created?
What is a flat database? As opposed too what other type?
Thanks
PieMan
Suzanne posted this at 18:36 — 20th October 2003.
She has: 5,507 posts
Joined: Feb 2000
Whoa.
1. flat file database is really just a text file with lines of relevant data listed. It's not the best option for your needs, and it's not secure.
2. MySQL is a brand of "structured query language" databases that include proprietary and open-source. It's one of the most commonly used, quite solid and many people know it.
Another "type" of database is to use XML, which is sort of a combination between a sql database and a flatfile database.
The other questions are a bit painful -- php.net and mysql.com have good resources once you sort of know what you're doing, but if you have absolutely no knowledge of databases, check out the book by Kevin Yank -- sitepoint.com/books/ on using PHP and MySQL for starters. He lists some helpful sites and resources for those who are totally brand new to programming and databases as well.
PieMan posted this at 18:46 — 20th October 2003.
They have: 2 posts
Joined: Oct 2003
Thanks for your help Suzanne.
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