######################## Generating Query Results ######################## There are several ways to generate query results: result() ======== This function returns the query result as an array of **objects**, or **an empty array** on failure. Typically you'll use this in a foreach loop, like this:: $query = $this->db->query("YOUR QUERY"); foreach ($query->result() as $row) { echo $row->title; echo $row->name; echo $row->body; } The above function is an alias of result_object(). If you run queries that might **not** produce a result, you are encouraged to test the result first:: $query = $this->db->query("YOUR QUERY"); if ($query->num_rows() > 0) { foreach ($query->result() as $row) { echo $row->title; echo $row->name; echo $row->body; } } You can also pass a string to result() which represents a class to instantiate for each result object (note: this class must be loaded) :: $query = $this->db->query("SELECT * FROM users;"); foreach ($query->result('User') as $user) { echo $user->name; // call attributes echo $user->reverse_name(); // or methods defined on the 'User' class } result_array() =============== This function returns the query result as a pure array, or an empty array when no result is produced. Typically you'll use this in a foreach loop, like this:: $query = $this->db->query("YOUR QUERY"); foreach ($query->result_array() as $row) { echo $row['title']; echo $row['name']; echo $row['body']; } row() ===== This function returns a single result row. If your query has more than one row, it returns only the first row. The result is returned as an **object**. Here's a usage example:: $query = $this->db->query("YOUR QUERY"); if ($query->num_rows() > 0) { $row = $query->row(); echo $row->title; echo $row->name; echo $row->body; } If you want a specific row returned you can submit the row number as a digit in the first parameter:: $row = $query->row(5); You can also add a second String parameter, which is the name of a class to instantiate the row with:: $query = $this->db->query("SELECT * FROM users LIMIT 1;"); $query->row(0, 'User'); echo $row->name; // call attributes echo $row->reverse_name(); // or methods defined on the 'User' class row_array() ============ Identical to the above row() function, except it returns an array. Example:: $query = $this->db->query("YOUR QUERY"); if ($query->num_rows() > 0) { $row = $query->row_array(); echo $row['title']; echo $row['name']; echo $row['body']; } If you want a specific row returned you can submit the row number as a digit in the first parameter:: $row = $query->row_array(5); In addition, you can walk forward/backwards/first/last through your results using these variations: | **$row = $query->first_row()** | **$row = $query->last_row()** | **$row = $query->next_row()** | **$row = $query->previous_row()** By default they return an object unless you put the word "array" in the parameter: | **$row = $query->first_row('array')** | **$row = $query->last_row('array')** | **$row = $query->next_row('array')** | **$row = $query->previous_row('array')** *********************** Result Helper Functions *********************** $query->num_rows() =================== The number of rows returned by the query. Note: In this example, $query is the variable that the query result object is assigned to:: $query = $this->db->query('SELECT * FROM my_table'); echo $query->num_rows(); .. note:: Not all database drivers have a native way of getting the total number of rows for a result set. When this is the case, all of the data is prefetched and count() is manually called on the resulting array in order to achieve the same functionality. $query->num_fields() ===================== The number of FIELDS (columns) returned by the query. Make sure to call the function using your query result object:: $query = $this->db->query('SELECT * FROM my_table'); echo $query->num_fields(); $query->free_result() ====================== It frees the memory associated with the result and deletes the result resource ID. Normally PHP frees its memory automatically at the end of script execution. However, if you are running a lot of queries in a particular script you might want to free the result after each query result has been generated in order to cut down on memory consumptions. Example:: $query = $this->db->query('SELECT title FROM my_table'); foreach ($query->result() as $row) { echo $row->title; } $query->free_result(); // The $query result object will no longer be available $query2 = $this->db->query('SELECT name FROM some_table'); $row = $query2->row(); echo $row->name; $query2->free_result(); // The $query2 result object will no longer be available