Is it necessary to change the PHP question bank to MySQL?

With the development of the Internet, more and more websites or apps are beginning to require functions similar to exams or tests. Such a function is inseparable from a question bank system, and PHP is currently one of the most popular server-side scripting languages ​​and the main development language for many websites, while MySQL is one of the most widely used relational databases. So, do we need to change the PHP question bank to MySQL?

First, there are problems with PHP’s question bank system

In earlier web development, most languages ​​would store their question banks on the server in text form, and PHP was no exception. PHP question banks are usually stored in CSV format, that is, each question is separated by commas and newlines are used as line separators. The advantage of this storage method is that it is simple and intuitive, making it convenient for developers and administrators to write and modify the question bank, and it is also easier to implement random selection of questions. However, as time goes by and technology advances, this storage method gradually shows some obvious shortcomings.

First of all, the number of questions stored in CSV format is limited by server performance. If the question bank is too large, the reading and processing time will become quite long. Second, CSV files contain row-delimited data, making it difficult to quickly query specified data. As exams get larger and larger, the shortcomings of this approach become more apparent. In response to this problem, PHP's solution is to put the question bank file in memory, and then use data structures such as arrays to implement operations such as querying, filtering, and sorting. However, this processing method is also relatively slow and requires a lot of memory.

Second, MySQL storage and query methods

MySQL is a relational database management system that can provide faster query speed and more powerful query functions. Using MySQL to store the question bank has the following advantages:

1. Data storage is more flexible and can support multiple data types.
2. Can handle larger data sets and query data faster. Clients can use SQL query statements to filter, sort and query data, which makes development more efficient.
3. You can use it to store key information, such as test scores, data analysis, etc.

Third, MySQL design

When building the question bank MySQL database, you need to design a suitable database structure. Usually, it is necessary to create tables of questions, test papers, exams, answers, etc. Among them, the question list is particularly important because the entire question bank system starts from here. This table should include the content of the question, question type, options, answers, explanations, etc.

The test paper and exam form should include basic information about the test paper and exam, such as name, validity period, difficulty level, etc. The answer sheet only contains information about the answers. When adding questions and exam papers, users can quickly query, sort, retrieve and modify information by using the database.

Fourth, how to migrate the question bank from PHP to MySQL

The process of migrating the existing CSV format question bank to MySQL is not difficult and can be roughly divided into the following steps:

1. Create MySQL database and tables, define each field and its attributes.
2. Write a PHP program to import data from CSV files into a MySQL database.
3. For query, editing and management operations, use PHP programs to operate the MySQL database.

In addition, it is also necessary to set appropriate indexes and optimize queries in the database to maximize the performance of the MySQL server.

Conclusion:

Converting the question bank format and its data storage method can effectively improve performance and security. Although a CSV file of around 250MB can easily load into memory in 5 seconds, data sets larger than this can be easily stored and processed using a database. Therefore, it is recommended to change the PHP question bank to MySQL so that our question bank system can be better managed and maintained.

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