Chapter 26. PHP's dba Functions

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Preparations and Settings

• Creating a File-Based Database

• Writing Data

• Reading Data

• Sample Application

Using databases is one of the key applications for PHP-driven websites. However, a price difference still exists between hosting packages with MySQL and without MySQL. PHP 5 comes with SQLite, but some hosters have already announced that they will disable SQLite in their database-less hosting packages (obviously to persuade users to buy the more expensive MySQL package). However, one little-known kind of database access in PHP is enabled with most hosterssometimes without their knowledge. We are talking about PHP's dba functions, short for database abstraction layer functions. With these functions, you can access Berkeley DB-style databasesthat is, file-based databases. There is no need for a daemon running in the background. You just need write access to the database file, as with SQLite. Performance is not optimal, but for smaller applications this may be a suitable way to go.