[RESOLVED] Why use pagination?

hadoob024

I've read all the posts regarding getting help with setting up and implementing pagination. The one thing that I haven't found is why people use it at all? Does it help with bandwidth usage? Is it just to help organize search results? I'm just curious as to the reasons pro/con for implementing it. Thanks!

Installer

For example, if you want to display a table containing dozens or hundreds or more records from a database, and don't want to show them all on one huge page, you'd need to use pagination. Then you can allow a user to navigate (next, previous, specific page, etc.) more cleanly and intuitively through the records. The same for large text files, forum threads, and the like.

Just think of getting all Google search results on one page vs. paginated results.

hadoob024

So I guess you're saying that primarily it helps with response time, right? Hmmm... interesting. I guess that's reason enough to implement it. What if I want to have a "print search results" link at the end of my search results. I would I get that link to print the entire contents and not just the "paginated" section? Would I have to re-run the query?

bradgrafelman

hadoob024 wrote:
Would I have to re-run the query?

The query is re-run on each different "page" (with different LIMIT conditions).

Yes, you would have to re-run the query, unless you really wanted to waste resources and just have the entire result returned without a LIMIT condition and just use PHP to do the pagination.

EDIT: Another reason, other than load time, that things would be paginated - aesthetics.

Installer

...you're saying that primarily it helps with response time...

Not really, although that can be a factor. What I'm saying is that 20 to a page is better than 2000 to a page for readability, aesthetics (as Brad says), usability, and a bunch of other -bilities.

hadoob024

cool. this all makes sense. i'll make the "print search results" a link that opens another PHP script in a new window that re-runs the same query without the limits. that's cool and makes sense. and so does the pagination stuff. thanks!!!