How can I simulate an array variable in MySQL?

Solution 1:

Well, I've been using temporary tables instead of array variables. Not the greatest solution, but it works.

Note that you don't need to formally define their fields, just create them using a SELECT:

DROP TEMPORARY TABLE IF EXISTS my_temp_table;
CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE my_temp_table
    SELECT first_name FROM people WHERE last_name = 'Smith';

(See also Create temporary table from select statement without using Create Table.)

Solution 2:

You can achieve this in MySQL using WHILE loop:

SET @myArrayOfValue = '2,5,2,23,6,';

WHILE (LOCATE(',', @myArrayOfValue) > 0)
DO
    SET @value = ELT(1, @myArrayOfValue);
    SET @myArrayOfValue= SUBSTRING(@myArrayOfValue, LOCATE(',',@myArrayOfValue) + 1);

    INSERT INTO `EXEMPLE` VALUES(@value, 'hello');
END WHILE;

EDIT: Alternatively you can do it using UNION ALL:

INSERT INTO `EXEMPLE`
(
 `value`, `message`
)
(
 SELECT 2 AS `value`, 'hello' AS `message`
 UNION ALL
 SELECT 5 AS `value`, 'hello' AS `message`
 UNION ALL
 SELECT 2 AS `value`, 'hello' AS `message`
 UNION ALL
 ...
);