Storing a history of what users do in a LOG file

[bnashenas1984]

Hi everyone
I'v made a social networking website with PHP and now I'm trying to store a history of everything my users do in a file..
Here's the question:
Is it better to put it in a .log file and then download the file and save it on my computer at the end of each day OR putting them on a database table.

I think the second way takes a big amount of memory...
What's the regular way?

Thanks

[ak1dnar]

History? what type of data you want to save in the history. is it URLs, updated records, user activities? anyway better to use a database for this, because it is easy to manage, once it compare with a flat file.

[Motoma]

I agree with ajaxrand's statement 100%. Not only are databases easier to deal with than flat files, they are easier to manage, and much more powerful when it comes to retrieving your data.

[bnashenas1984]

Hi
Thank you for your replies.
Actualy I dont need to use these datas so much.. It's just for security. I mean I'm thinking to have a history of all users activities and if something like cheating or abusing happens then I can use this history to find the abuser...

heres an example of what I save:

(UserID: 27) Logged in with IP 213.100.20.74 at 4:00pm
(UserID: 27) Changed his/her profile pictire
(UserID: 27) Logged out at 6:30pm

Thanks again

[Motoma]

Hi
Thank you for your replies.
Actualy I dont need to use these datas so much.. It's just for security. I mean I'm thinking to have a history of all users activities and if something like cheating or abusing happens then I can use this history to find the abuser...

heres an example of what I save:

(UserID: 27) Logged in with IP 213.100.20.74 at 4:00pm
(UserID: 27) Changed his/her profile pictire
(UserID: 27) Logged out at 6:30pm

Thanks again

Okay, but consider this:
Lets say you suspect that there is a user account that is being shared, if you have your data in a database, a simple query can pull up login counts per day, time between logins, and excessive failed login attempts. On top of that, you with a simple SQL filter, you have have these reports automated for you, to alert you via email if an account seems suspicious.

[pbmods]

Heya, bnashenas1984.

If you store the data in a database, you can sort and filter it on a per-User basis, and you can then add Admin tools (email User, ban User, etc.) directly to the 'view log' page.

Note that you are introducing a *very minimal* amount of overhead by storing the data in the database, but it makes your life a whole lot more convenient, and isn't that what computers are all about?

[bnashenas1984]

Thanks
You people realy have open minds. Sometimes you think about something I never do..
Thank you again for sharing your knowledge.

[Markus]

That's because they are GOD!!!!!!!!!!!