Hello, Currently my website has a multiple language system which is based on a MySql database (all text is retrieved in 1 query and then put in an array which is carried over in a SESSION to prevent having to re-query the db on every page). Now I've had the advise to switch from a MySql database system for my multiple language functionality to a file based system which should be faster but I was always under the impression that reading files using php is slower then getting it from a database.. What is your advice / experience with this? Thank you. Best regards,
Depends on the volume and how the database is being accessed. For very simple situations, a file based storage may be a better match. Generally if you're comparing storing hundreds of files to hundreds of database entries, the database should greatly outperform the file storage in most situations. I always lean towards keeping everything in a database. The only exception is actually storing files or other BLOB/TEXT data types. These can have major affects on a database's usability and are very often more appropriately handled by a file system.
I tend to store translations on disk rather than in a db, since I usually need to hired a 3rd party to do the translations for me and I do not like to give them access to my database, nor do I like to have to manually add translations to the db. Too much room for error. Also, if you have a testing framework in place you can catch small errors i.e. missed translations, before committing code. You are doing the right thing by caching the language text, not sure I'd stick it in a session var tho, doesn't that mean it's stored once per user? If you have a lot of users that could eat up memory.
hi, thanks for the answers. Good point on the caching per user.. that is actually what is happening now. I'm going to look into this. For now I do think I'll keep it in DB with file caching B.r.