Database dropdown select box data

[jweissig]

Hello,

I want to store elements for a html drop down select box in a database so that it is easy to store and update the information. However I have 7 select boxes that I would like to store.

Everything I have found on the net only talks about one. They show how to store the data and use a SQL statement to return the results. Using 7 dropdown I wonder if this will cause long load times.

Would it be better to have one table in the database to store all the drop down selects and have a column specifying the “type” and use ONE sql statement to get the data and have my script parse out the element or use 7 sql statements?

What is faster?
Is there information someone that talks about this?
Is it better to not store this data in the database?

Thanks,
- Justin

[johnnyv]

If the data is static and does not get changed or is changed very infrequently then keep it in you .php file. For the opposite the database is probably the best option, and use one table with an extra discription field like you mentioned.