Active Record

class CI_DB_active_record

ExpressionEngine gives you access to a Active Record class. This pattern allows information to be retrieved, inserted, and updated in your database with minimal scripting. In some cases only one or two lines of code are necessary to perform a database action. It also allows for safer queries, since the values are escaped automatically by the system.

Selecting Data

get([$table = ''[, $limit = NULL[, $offset = NULL]]])

Runs the selection query and returns the result. Can be used by itself to retrieve all records from a table:

$query = ee()->db->get('mytable');  // Produces: SELECT * FROM mytable

The second and third parameters enable you to set a limit and offset clause:

$query = ee()->db->get('mytable', 10, 20);
// Produces: SELECT * FROM mytable LIMIT 20, 10 (in MySQL. Other databases have slightly different syntax)

You’ll notice that the above function is assigned to a variable named $query, which can be used to show the results:

$query = ee()->db->get('mytable');

foreach ($query->result() as $row)
{
    echo $row->title;
}

Please visit the result functions page for a full discussion regarding result generation.

get_where([$table = ''[, $where = NULL[, $limit = NULL[, $offset = NULL]]]])

Identical to the above function except that it permits you to add a WHERE clause in the second parameter, instead of using the where() function:

$query = ee()->db->get_where('mytable', array('id' => $id), $limit, $offset);

Please read the about the where() function below for more information.

select([$select = '*'[, $escape = NULL]])

Permits you to write the SELECT portion of your query:

ee()->db->select('title, content, date');
$query = ee()->db->get('mytable');  // Produces: SELECT title, content, date FROM mytable

select() accepts an optional second parameter. If you set it to FALSE, your field or table names will not be escaped or protected. This is useful if you need a compound select statement:

ee()->db->select('(SELECT SUM(payments.amount) FROM payments WHERE payments.invoice_id=4') AS amount_paid', FALSE);
$query = ee()->db->get('mytable');

select_max($select[, $alias = ''])

Writes a SELECT MAX(field) portion for your query. You can optionally include a second parameter to rename the resulting field.

ee()->db->select_max('age');
$query = ee()->db->get('members');  // Produces: SELECT MAX(age) as age FROM members

ee()->db->select_max('age', 'member_age');
$query = ee()->db->get('members'); // Produces: SELECT MAX(age) as member_age FROM members

select_min($select[, $alias = ''])

Writes a SELECT MIN(field) portion for your query. As with select_max(), You can optionally include a second parameter to rename the resulting field.

ee()->db->select_min('age');
$query = ee()->db->get('members'); // Produces: SELECT MIN(age) as age FROM members

select_avg($select[, $alias = ''])

Writes a SELECT AVG(field) portion for your query. As with select_max(), You can optionally include a second parameter to rename the resulting field.

ee()->db->select_avg('age');
$query = ee()->db->get('members'); // Produces: SELECT AVG(age) as age FROM members

select_sum($select[, $alias = ''])

Writes a SELECT SUM(field) portion for your query. As with select_max(), You can optionally include a second parameter to rename the resulting field.

ee()->db->select_sum('age');
$query = ee()->db->get('members'); // Produces: SELECT SUM(age) as age FROM members

from($from)

Permits you to write the FROM portion of your query:

ee()->db->select('title, content, date');
ee()->db->from('mytable');
$query = ee()->db->get();  // Produces: SELECT title, content, date FROM mytable

Note: As shown earlier, the FROM portion of your query can be specified in the get() function, so use whichever method you prefer.

join($table, $cond[, $type = ''])

Permits you to write the JOIN portion of your query:

ee()->db->select('*');
ee()->db->from('blogs');
ee()->db->join('comments', 'comments.id = blogs.id');
$query = ee()->db->get();

// Produces:
// SELECT * FROM blogs JOIN comments ON comments.id = blogs.id

Multiple function calls can be made if you need several joins in one query.

If you need a specific type of JOIN you can specify it via the third parameter of the function. Options are: left, right, outer, inner, left outer, and right outer.

ee()->db->join('comments', 'comments.id = blogs.id', 'left');
// Produces: LEFT JOIN comments ON comments.id = blogs.id

If you need to assign an alias to your JOIN you can specify it via the fourth parameter of the function.

ee()->db->join('comments', 'comments.id = exp_blogs.id', 'left', 'observations');
// Produces: LEFT JOIN comments observations  ON observations.id = exp_blogs.id

Note: When an alias is specified the normal ‘protected’ processing of table names in your condition is suspended. Therefore if an alias is being used, other tables referenced need to be fully expanded in the condition.

where($key[, $value = NULL[, $escape = TRUE]])

This function enables you to set WHERE clauses using one of four methods:

Note: All values passed to this function are escaped automatically, producing safer queries.

1. Simple key/value method:

   ee()->db->where('name', $name); // Produces: WHERE name = 'Joe'

   Notice that the equal sign is added for you.

   If you use multiple function calls they will be chained together with AND between them:

   ee()->db->where('name', $name);
   ee()->db->where('title', $title);
   ee()->db->where('status', $status);
   // WHERE name = 'Joe' AND title = 'boss' AND status = 'active'

2. Custom key/value method: You can include an operator in the first parameter in order to control the comparison:

   ee()->db->where('name !=', $name);
   ee()->db->where('id <', $id); // Produces: WHERE name != 'Joe' AND id < 45

3. Associative array method:

   $array = array('name' => $name, 'title' => $title, 'status' => $status);
   ee()->db->where($array);
   // Produces: WHERE name = 'Joe' AND title = 'boss' AND status = 'active'

   You can include your own operators using this method as well:

   $array = array('name !=' => $name, 'id <' => $id, 'date >' => $date);
   ee()->db->where($array);

4. Custom string: You can write your own clauses manually:

   $where = "name='Joe' AND status='boss' OR status='active'";
   ee()->db->where($where);

where() accepts an optional third parameter. If you set it to FALSE, your field or table names will not be escaped or protected:

ee()->db->where('MATCH (field) AGAINST ("value")', NULL, FALSE);

or_where($key[, $value = NULL[, $escape = TRUE]])

This function is identical to the one above, except that multiple instances are joined by OR:

ee()->db->where('name !=', $name);
ee()->db->or_where('id >', $id);  // Produces: WHERE name != 'Joe' OR id > 50

where_in($key, $values)

Generates a WHERE field IN ('item', 'item') SQL query joined with AND if appropriate:

$names = array('Frank', 'Todd', 'James');
ee()->db->where_in('username', $names);
// Produces: WHERE username IN ('Frank', 'Todd', 'James')

or_where_in($key, $values)

Generates a WHERE field IN ('item', 'item') SQL query joined with OR if appropriate:

$names = array('Frank', 'Todd', 'James');
ee()->db->or_where_in('username', $names);
// Produces: OR username IN ('Frank', 'Todd', 'James')

where_not_in($key, $values)

Generates a WHERE field NOT IN ('item', 'item') SQL query joined with AND if appropriate:

$names = array('Frank', 'Todd', 'James');
ee()->db->where_not_in('username', $names);
// Produces: WHERE username NOT IN ('Frank', 'Todd', 'James')

or_where_not_in($key, $values)

Generates a WHERE field NOT IN ('item', 'item') SQL query joined with OR if appropriate:

$names = array('Frank', 'Todd', 'James');
ee()->db->or_where_not_in('username', $names);
// Produces: OR username NOT IN ('Frank', 'Todd', 'James')

like($field[, $match = ''[, $side = 'both']])

This method enables you to generate LIKE clauses, useful for doing searches.

1. Simple key/value method

   ee()->db->like('title', 'match');
   // Produces: WHERE `title` LIKE '%match%' ESCAPE '!'

   If you use multiple method calls they will be chained together with AND between them:

   ee()->db->like('title', 'match');
   ee()->db->like('body', 'match');
   // WHERE `title` LIKE '%match%' ESCAPE '!' AND  `body` LIKE '%match% ESCAPE '!'

   If you want to control where the wildcard (%) is placed, you can use an optional third argument. Your options are 'before', 'after', and 'both' (which is the default):

   ee()->db->like('title', 'match', 'before'); // Produces: WHERE `title` LIKE '%match' ESCAPE '!'
   ee()->db->like('title', 'match', 'after');  // Produces: WHERE `title` LIKE 'match%' ESCAPE '!'
   ee()->db->like('title', 'match', 'both');   // Produces: WHERE `title` LIKE '%match%' ESCAPE '!'

2. Associative array method

   $array = array('title' => $match, 'page1' => $match, 'page2' => $match);
   ee()->db->like($array);
   // WHERE `title` LIKE '%match%' ESCAPE '!' AND  `page1` LIKE '%match%' ESCAPE '!' AND  `page2` LIKE '%match%' ESCAPE '!'

or_like($field[, $match = ''[, $side = 'both']])

This method is identical to the one above, except that multiple instances are joined by OR:

ee()->db->like('title', 'match'); ee()->db->or_like('body', $match);
// WHERE `title` LIKE '%match%' ESCAPE '!' OR  `body` LIKE '%match%' ESCAPE '!'

not_like($field[, $match = ''[, $side = 'both']])

This method is identical to like(), except that it generates NOT LIKE statements:

ee()->db->not_like('title', 'match');   // WHERE `title` NOT LIKE '%match% ESCAPE '!'

or_not_like($field[, $match = ''[, $side = 'both']])

This method is identical to not_like(), except that multiple instances are joined by OR:

ee()->db->like('title', 'match');
ee()->db->or_not_like('body', 'match');
// WHERE `title` LIKE '%match% OR  `body` NOT LIKE '%match%' ESCAPE '!'

group_by($by)

Permits you to write the GROUP BY portion of your query:

ee()->db->group_by("title"); // Produces: GROUP BY title

You can also pass an array of multiple values as well:

ee()->db->group_by(array("title", "date"));  // Produces: GROUP BY title, date

distinct([$val = TRUE])

Adds the DISTINCT keyword to a query:

ee()->db->distinct();
ee()->db->get('table'); // Produces: SELECT DISTINCT * FROM table

having($key[, $value = ''[, $escape = TRUE]])

Permits you to write the HAVING portion of your query. There are 2 possible syntaxes, 1 argument or 2:

ee()->db->having('user_id = 45');  // Produces: HAVING user_id = 45
ee()->db->having('user_id',  45);  // Produces: HAVING user_id = 45

You can also pass an array of multiple values as well:

ee()->db->having(array('title =' => 'My Title', 'id <' => $id));
// Produces: HAVING title = 'My Title', id < 45

You can prevent escaping content by passing an optional third argument, and setting it to FALSE:

ee()->db->having('user_id',  45);  // Produces: HAVING `user_id` = 45 in some databases such as MySQL
ee()->db->having('user_id',  45, FALSE);  // Produces: HAVING user_id = 45

or_having($key[, $value = ''[, $escape = TRUE]])

Identical to having(), only separates multiple clauses with OR.

order_by($orderby[, $direction = ''[, $escape = NULL]])

Lets you set an ORDER BY clause.

The first parameter contains the name of the column you would like to order by.

The second parameter lets you set the direction of the result. Options are ASC, DESC AND RANDOM.

ee()->db->order_by('title', 'DESC');
// Produces: ORDER BY `title` DESC

You can also pass your own string in the first parameter:

ee()->db->order_by('title DESC, name ASC');
// Produces: ORDER BY `title` DESC, `name` ASC

Or multiple function calls can be made if you need multiple fields.

ee()->db->order_by('title', 'DESC');
ee()->db->order_by('name', 'ASC');
// Produces: ORDER BY `title` DESC, `name` ASC

If you choose the RANDOM direction option, then the first parameters will be ignored, unless you specify a numeric seed value:

ee()->db->order_by('title', 'RANDOM');
// Produces: ORDER BY RAND()

ee()->db->order_by(42, 'RANDOM');
// Produces: ORDER BY RAND(42)

limit($value[, $offset = ''])

Lets you limit the number of rows you would like returned by the query:

ee()->db->limit(10);  // Produces: LIMIT 10

The second parameter lets you set a result offset:

ee()->db->limit(10, 20);  // Produces: LIMIT 20, 10 (in MySQL.  Other databases have slightly different syntax)

ffset($offset)

Lets you set the offset separately from limit():

ee()->db->offset(10);  // Produces: LIMIT n, 10

count_all_results([$table = ''])

Permits you to determine the number of rows in a particular Active Record query. Queries will accept Active Record restrictors such as where(), or_where(), like(), or_like(), etc. Example:

echo ee()->db->count_all_results('my_table');  // Produces an integer, like 25
ee()->db->like('title', 'match');
ee()->db->from('my_table');
echo ee()->db->count_all_results(); // Produces an integer, like 17

Inserting Data

insert([$table = ''[, $set = NULL]])

Generates an insert string based on the data you supply, and runs the query. You can either pass an array or an object to the function. Here is an example using an array:

$data = array(
    'title' => 'My title',
    'name' => 'My Name',
    'date' => 'My date'
);

ee()->db->insert('mytable', $data);
// Produces: INSERT INTO mytable (title, name, date) VALUES ('My title', 'My name', 'My date')

The first parameter will contain the table name, the second is an associative array of values.

Here is an example using an object:

/*
class Myclass {
    public $title = 'My Title';
    public $content = 'My Content';
    public $date = 'My Date';
}
*/

$object = new Myclass;
ee()->db->insert('mytable', $object);
// Produces: INSERT INTO mytable (title, content, date) VALUES ('My Title', 'My Content', 'My Date')

The first parameter will contain the table name, the second is an object.

insert_batch([$table = ''[, $set = NULL]])

Generates an insert string based on the data you supply, and runs the query. You can either pass an array or an object to the function. Here is an example using an array:

$data = array(
    array(
        'title' => 'My title',
        'name' => 'My Name',
        'date' => 'My date'
    ),
    array(
        'title' => 'Another title',
        'name' => 'Another Name',
        'date' => 'Another date'
    )
);

ee()->db->insert_batch('mytable', $data);
// Produces: INSERT INTO mytable (title, name, date) VALUES ('My title', 'My name', 'My date'),  ('Another title', 'Another name', 'Another date')

The first parameter will contain the table name, the second is an associative array of values.

replace([$table = ''[, $set = NULL]])

This method executes a REPLACE statement, which is basically the SQL standard for (optional) DELETE + INSERT, using PRIMARY and UNIQUE keys as the determining factor. In our case, it will save you from the need to implement complex logics with different combinations of select(), update(), delete() and insert() calls.

Example:

$data = array(
    'title' => 'My title',
    'name'  => 'My Name',
    'date'  => 'My date'
);

ee()->db->replace('table', $data);

// Executes: REPLACE INTO mytable (title, name, date) VALUES ('My title', 'My name', 'My date')

In the above example, if we assume that the title field is our primary key, then if a row containing ‘My title’ as the title value, that row will be deleted with our new row data replacing it.

Usage of the set() method is also allowed and all fields are automatically escaped, just like with insert().

set($key[, $value = ''[, $escape = TRUE]])

This function enables you to set values for inserts or updates. It can be used instead of passing a data array directly to the insert or update functions:

ee()->db->set('name', $name);
ee()->db->insert('mytable');  // Produces: INSERT INTO mytable (name) VALUES ('{$name}')

If you use multiple function called they will be assembled properly based on whether you are doing an insert or an update:

ee()->db->set('name', $name);
ee()->db->set('title', $title);
ee()->db->set('status', $status);
ee()->db->insert('mytable');

set() will also accept an optional third parameter ($escape), that will prevent data from being escaped if set to FALSE. To illustrate the difference, here is set() used both with and without the escape parameter:

ee()->db->set('field', 'field+1', FALSE);
ee()->db->insert('mytable'); // gives INSERT INTO mytable (field) VALUES (field+1)
ee()->db->set('field', 'field+1');
ee()->db->insert('mytable'); // gives INSERT INTO mytable (field) VALUES ('field+1')

You can also pass an associative array to this function:

$array = array(
    'name' => $name,
    'title' => $title,
    'status' => $status
);

ee()->db->set($array);
ee()->db->insert('mytable');

Or an object:

/*
class Myclass {
    public $title = 'My Title';
    public $content = 'My Content';
    public $date = 'My Date';
}
*/

$object = new Myclass;
ee()->db->set($object);
ee()->db->insert('mytable');

Updating Data

update([$table = ''[, $set = NULL[, $where = NULL[, $limit = NULL]]]])

Generates an update string and runs the query based on the data you supply. You can pass an array or an object to the function. Here is an example using an array:

$data = array(
    'title' => $title,
    'name' => $name,
    'date' => $date
);

ee()->db->where('id', $id);
ee()->db->update('mytable', $data);
// Produces: // UPDATE mytable  // SET title = '{$title}', name = '{$name}', date = '{$date}' // WHERE id = $id

Or you can supply an object:

/*
class Myclass {
    public $title = 'My Title';
    public $content = 'My Content';
    public $date = 'My Date';
}
*/

$object = new Myclass;
ee()->db->where('id', $id);
ee()->db->update('mytable', $object);
// Produces: // UPDATE mytable  // SET title = '{$title}', name = '{$name}', date = '{$date}' // WHERE id = $id

You’ll notice the use of the where() function, enabling you to set the WHERE clause. You can optionally pass this information directly into the update function as a string:

ee()->db->update('mytable', $data, "id = 4");

Or as an array:

ee()->db->update('mytable', $data, array('id' => $id));

You may also use the set() function described above when performing updates.

update_batch([$table = ''[, $set = NULL[, $index = NULL]]])

Generates an update string based on the data you supply, and runs the query. You can either pass an array or an object to the function. Here is an example using an array:

$data = array(
   array(
      'title' => 'My title' ,
      'name' => 'My Name 2' ,
      'date' => 'My date 2'
   ),
   array(
      'title' => 'Another title' ,
      'name' => 'Another Name 2' ,
      'date' => 'Another date 2'
   )
);

ee()->db->update_batch('mytable', $data, 'title');

// Produces:
// UPDATE `mytable` SET `name` = CASE
// WHEN `title` = 'My title' THEN 'My Name 2'
// WHEN `title` = 'Another title' THEN 'Another Name 2'
// ELSE `name` END,
// `date` = CASE
// WHEN `title` = 'My title' THEN 'My date 2'
// WHEN `title` = 'Another title' THEN 'Another date 2'
// ELSE `date` END
// WHERE `title` IN ('My title','Another title')

The first parameter will contain the table name, the second is an associative array of values, the third parameter is the where key.

Note: CI_DB_driver::affected_rows() won’t give you proper results with this method, due to the very nature of how it works. Instead, update_batch() returns the number of rows affected.

Deleting Data

delete([$table = ''[, $where = ''[, $limit = NULL[, $reset_data = TRUE]]]])

Generates a delete SQL string and runs the query:

ee()->db->delete('mytable', array('id' => $id));
// Produces:
// DELETE FROM mytable
// WHERE id = $id

The first parameter is the table name, the second is the where clause. You can also use the where() or or_where() functions instead of passing the data to the second parameter of the function:

ee()->db->where('id', $id);
ee()->db->delete('mytable');

// Produces:
// DELETE FROM mytable
// WHERE id = $id

An array of table names can be passed into delete() if you would like to delete data from more than 1 table:

$tables = array('table1', 'table2', 'table3');
ee()->db->where('id', '5');
ee()->db->delete($tables);

If you want to delete all data from a table, you can use the truncate() function, or empty_table().

empty_table([$table = ''])

Generates a delete SQL string and runs the query:

ee()->db->empty_table('mytable'); // Produces: DELETE FROM mytable

truncate([$table = ''])

Generates a truncate SQL string and runs the query:

ee()->db->from('mytable');
ee()->db->truncate();

// or

ee()->db->truncate('mytable');

// Produce:
// TRUNCATE mytable

Note: If the TRUNCATE command isn’t available, truncate() will execute as DELETE FROM table.

Query Grouping

Query grouping allows you to create groups of WHERE clauses by enclosing them in parentheses. This will allow you to create queries with complex WHERE clauses. Nested groups are supported. Example:

ee()->db->select('*')->from('my_table')
    ->start_group()
        ->where('a', 'a')
        ->or_start_group()
            ->where('b', 'b')
            ->where('c', 'c')
        ->end_group()
    ->end_group()
    ->where('d', 'd')
->get();

// Generates:
// SELECT * FROM (`my_table`) WHERE ( `a` = 'a' OR ( `b` = 'b' AND `c` = 'c' ) ) AND `d` = 'd'

Note: groups need to be balanced, make sure every start_group() is matched by a end_group().

start_group()

Starts a new group by adding an opening parenthesis to the WHERE clause of the query.

or_start_group()

Starts a new group by adding an opening parenthesis to the WHERE clause of the query, prefixing it with OR.

end_group()

Ends the current group by adding an closing parenthesis to the WHERE clause of the query.

Method Chaining

Method chaining allows you to simplify your syntax by connecting multiple functions. Consider this example:

$query = ee()->db->select('title')
        ->where('id', $id)
        ->limit(10, 20)
        ->get('mytable');

Caching

While not “true” caching, Active Record enables you to save (or “cache”) certain parts of your queries for reuse at a later point in your script’s execution. Normally, when an Active Record call is completed, all stored information is reset for the next call. With caching, you can prevent this reset, and reuse information easily.

Cached calls are cumulative. If you make 2 cached select() calls, and then 2 uncached select() calls, this will result in 4 select() calls.

start_cache()

This function must be called to begin caching. All Active Record queries of the correct type (see below for supported queries) are stored for later use.

stop_cache()

This function can be called to stop caching.

flush_cache()

This function deletes all items from the Active Record cache.

Here’s a usage example:

ee()->db->start_cache();
ee()->db->select('field1');
ee()->db->stop_cache();
ee()->db->get('tablename');
//Generates: SELECT `field1` FROM (`tablename`)

ee()->db->select('field2');
ee()->db->get('tablename');
//Generates:  SELECT `field1`, `field2` FROM (`tablename`)

ee()->db->flush_cache();
ee()->db->select('field2');
ee()->db->get('tablename');
//Generates:  SELECT `field2` FROM (`tablename`)

Note: The following statements can be cached: select(), from(), join(), where(), like(), group_by(), having(), order_by(), set().

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