mysql_fetch_array

[chrianne29]

I just would like to ask something about mysql_fetch_array. Is it possible to use mysql_fetch_array w/o using while function??For example:

$sql_db=mysql_query ("SELECT USERNAME FROM UACCNT WHERE USERNAME = '%ME%'");
$get_username = ($username = mysql_fetch_array($sql_db));

echo $username ['USERNAME'];

is this possible? or it really requires while function to be used?

[bradgrafelman]

The only reason you commonly see a 'while' loop surrounding the fetch functions is because you're looping through a result set one row at a time. If you're only expecting at most one row, then sure, there's no reason why you would need to use a loop structure.

[a_r_d]

Yes the while loop is only used to loop through results a row of output at a time.

If you are expecting just one row of results you dont need it. Although for a bit of extra security you could use "LIMIT 1" on the end of the SQL statment to make sure there is only one row output.

Also if you want to use associative arrays, use

mysql_fetch_array($result, MYSQL_ASSOC

Here it is in full:

$sql_db=mysql_query ("SELECT USERNAME FROM UACCNT WHERE USERNAME = '%ME%' LIMIT 1");
$get_username = ($username = mysql_fetch_array($sql_db, MYSQL_ASSOC));

echo $username ['USERNAME'];