Set array as session

[TheServant]

I am trying to get data from a MySQL table and then store it in the session. I used to define each variable like:

$_SESSION['var1'] = $table['var1'];
$_SESSION['var2'] = $table['var2'];

But after re-doing my code, there has to be an easier way. First I simply tried:

$_SESSION = $table

Then

foreach( $user_data as $key => $value ) {
        $_SESSION[$key] = $value;
    }

Probably really stupid mistake I'm making, but can someone help me out?

[Dormilich]

what about

$_SESSION['db_data'] = $table;

?

[TheServant]

But then the array will be stored as a variable and I will have to call it via:

$_SESSION['db_data']['var1']

Won't I? I will try it when I get home, but there's got to be a logical way to transfer keys and values to another array.

[Dormilich]

sure, but what's the problem with it?

[TheServant]

lol, I'm lazy and looking for less coding. I think what I'm going to do anyway is simply have one variable in my session and the rest I will call from MySQL as needed per page. This means two MySQL queries per page, but for the sake of 10 variables it might be quicker than a 100 variable array plus one MySQL query? Not sure...

[Dormilich]

probably. and if you use prepared statements, it could be even quicker to query the DB twice (despite the memory advantage), but that's only a guess.

[TheServant]

What do you mean prepared statements?

[Dormilich]

see Parameterized Statements – Wikipedia and Prepared Statements – MySQL.

[Markus]

So, parametrized statements abstract the data out of the statement, and I assume it is then cleansed through the binding?

I have used this method before (still do, in fact) but I wasn't aware of it's name or it's benefits.

- Mark.

[TheServant]

Interesting. Thanks for the info.