Flat file vs mySQL databases

[Imusion]

Hi,

I have a question regarding server load in respects to using flat file database vs. a mysql database.

I have a member profile thing on my site where the user can change like a background color. Basically I'm having it so the script either opens up a text files with all the members information about what colors they are using then applying them. Or my second method would be to just store that info into a mySQL database then have the script query the database everytime a user visits the page, so it will display the right colors the member has chosen.

I was wondering which method would cause a bigger load on the server, or are both ways find. I'm leaning towards the mySQL database but I'm not sure if everytime a user visits the profile page and querying the data is efficent for the server.

If anyone can give me some insight on which method is more viable or even possibly suggestions on how I would make it more efficent I would appreciate it.

[J. Meeter]

MySQL. Faster and better.

MySQL = more CPU
Flat file = more HDD

[Mike]

If you have a MySQL database available, use it. As above, MySQL is alot faster, especially for bigger sites.

Here, I posted this one my site awhile ago, for future reference if anybody needs it:

The flatfile (text) database is the most basic form of data storage you can get. Databases such as MySQL are more complex, and are not found on all hosts.

Advantages to Flat-File:

[/b] - using a flat file costs practically nothing because data is stored as text files. No software is required other than the program that needs to access the data, usually NotePad.[/ul]

[/b] since text files are universally accepted by all server platforms, there is no problem moving your database from one server to another. Not all servers allow MySQL.[/ul]

[/b] data in flat files are stored in one straight line and are separated by delimiters.[/ul]
Advantages to Database (MySQL):

[/b] query language for requesting information from a database. Whenever searches are executed, it results in more efficient (faster) query.[/ul]

[/b] relational databases are designed to be able to efficiently handle larger amounts of data compared to flat files.[/ul]

[/b] security features such as password and user levels are usually built-in. Database records are also "locked" whenever they are accessed by a user hence preventing data corruption.[/ul][/quote]

Good Luck,
Mike

[J. Meeter]

You might also find some useful opinions here.

[Peter]

Hmmm, actually....benchmark tests have shown that there is very little difference between the 2. Flat files were faster when no condition has been set, but for databases where a condition has been set, it proved to be faster, but nothing you would really notice.

So for the conclusion, there is no real difference. Use which ever one you feel comfortable with. For me, it's MySQL.

[registrar]

Both are good, but MySQL is easier to handle because with PHPMyAdmin, you can instantly go through everything that is saved in the database

Plus MySQL is what I always use

[Tommy Huynh]

Hmm...reading this helped.

I plan on doing something that uses a database in PHP so I think I'm going to try to learn both SQL and Flat Files, and use both of them to try out which is easier for me.

[Imusion]

Thanks for the responses guys! I was leaning towards mySQL already just needed some reconfirmation. Also now the new way I have this setup it won't query the database as much.

It was intresting to actually find out there wasn't much differnt in terms of speed, I always thought mySQL was faster.

[Digger3000]

Mysql. The only reason I used flat file was because I didn't know how to use Mysql.

[Adam]

MySQL. It can be hard to do things with Flatfiles that are normally easy with MySQL.

[Lane Rendell]

MySql
Its easier to work with in my opinion.
Plus yougotta love PHPmyAdmin.