How to Store Array Data Type in MySQL?

Data is often kept in tables with rows and columns in MySQL. Each column is intended to hold a certain kind of data. In certain situations, you might need to keep an array of values in a single column. For example, you may save a list of tags connected to a blog post or a list of phone numbers. This is when MySQL's support for storing array data types comes in handy.

This article will cover different methods for storing array data types in MySQL, including using comma-separated values (CSV), JSON format, and the SET data type. We will discuss the benefits/drawbacks of each method of creating MySQL arrays, how to create a table structure for storing MySQL array data types, and the necessary configuration settings.

Methods for Storing Array Data Type in MySQL

Using Comma-separated Values (CSV)

One way to store MySQL arrays is by using a comma-separated value (CSV) format. This method involves storing the array as a string in a single column, separating each element by a comma. For example, if you were storing a list of names, the column might look like this:

When you retrieve this data, you can use inbuilt functions to convert the string back into an array. Despite being straightforward to use, this approach has several drawbacks, but there are some drawbacks. It can be difficult to search and sort the data in the column since it is stored as a string. If you use a large array, the string could also get very long and be difficult to work with.

Using JSON Format

Another way to store MySQL arrays is by using JSON format. JSON is a compact, simple-to-read, and easy-to-write data exchange format. In MySQL, you can use the JSON data type to store JSON data.

To store MySQL arrays as a JSON object, you would first convert the array to a JSON string. For example, if you were storing a list of names, the column might look like this:

We can use inbuilt functions like json_decode() in PHP to convert the JSON string back into an array. This approach provides an easy way to search and sort the data in the column since it is stored as a JSON object. However, it does require additional processing to convert the array to and from a JSON string.

Using the SET Data Type

The SET data type is a MySQL-specific data type that allows storing a set of values in a single column. Each value in the set is represented by a bit that can be set or cleared. For example, if you were storing a list of hobbies, the column might look like this:

When you retrieve this data, you can use the FIND_IN_SET() function in MySQL to search for a specific value in the set. This approach makes it simple to search for and order the information in the column, but it does have some limitations. The SET data type can only store up to 64 values, and it can be difficult to add or remove values from the set once it has been created.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Method

Each method for storing arrays in MySQL has its advantages and disadvantages.

• The CSV method is simple and easy to implement, but searching and sorting the data in the column can be difficult.
• The JSON method allows for easy searching and sorting of the data, but it requires additional processing to convert the array to and from a JSON string.
• The SET data type is great for storing a small set of values, but it has limitations on the number of values it can store, and it can be difficult to modify the set once created.

Depending on your unique requirements and the kind of data you wish to keep, you can choose between different methods for storing MySQL arrays.

• The SET data type is a suitable choice when a simple search and sort functionality is required.
• The JSON technique is preferable if you have significant data and need more flexible searching and sorting possibilities.
• Finally, the CSV technique is the best choice if you need a straightforward, easy-to-implement solution.

Creating a Table Structure for Storing Array Data Type in MySQL

To store MySQL arrays, you need to create a table with the appropriate column structure. Here is an example of a table structure for storing an array of book titles using the VARCHAR column type:

Query:

In this example, we have created a table called books with four columns: id, author, title_array, and year_published.

• The id column is an auto-incrementing integer used as the primary key.
• The author column is of the VARCHAR data type and is used to store the author's name.
• The title_array column is again of the VARCHAR data type and is used to store the book titles as a comma-separated list of values.
• The year_published column is an integer used to store the year the book was published.

When you insert data into the books table, you can insert a comma-separated list of book titles into the title_array column. For example:

Query:

When you retrieve data from the books table, you can use the FIND_IN_SET() function to search for specific values in the title_array column. For example:

Query:

Output:

This query will return all rows where the title_array column contains the value Title_1.

Configuration

To store JSON data in MySQL, you must ensure that your MySQL server is configured to support the JSON data type. This requires MySQL version 5.7.8 or higher.

To enable support for the JSON data type, you can add the following line to your MySQL configuration file (my.cnf):

my.cnf file:

In this example, we have added the default-tmp-storage-engine option with a value of MYISAM. This enables support for the JSON data type in MySQL.