efficient mySQL selects using PHP

what's the most efficient way to grab a single data value from a table field using PHP?

the best I have is using a while loop -- but something tells me there is a cleaner/more efficient way:


$sql="select countryType from c_countries where userid={$_SESSION[userid]}";
$result=mysql_query($sql);
while($row=mysql_fetch_array($result)){ $userCountryType = $row[countryType]; }

Have a look at mysql_result() (http://www.php.net/mysql-result)


$sql="select countryType from c_countries where userid={$_SESSION[userid]}";
$result=mysql_query($sql);
$userCountryType = mysql_result($result,0,0); //the last parameter depends on how the DB table is set up. This will return the first field of the first row.

StupidRalph is spot on... just keep in mind you don't need a loop unless the query results are going to produce more than one row, so using mysql_fetch_array() without the while loop would also be fine.

StupidRalph is spot on... just keep in mind you don't need a loop unless the query results are going to produce more than one row, so using mysql_fetch_array() without the while loop would also be fine.

I've recently reached my 500 post. I know what level you and the rest of the "Senior Coders" post. I don't want to hurt the ranking system's credibility too much. :p