flat file array or mysql db for auto complete script?

[acctman]

i'm trying to setup an auto complete script this is an example of it pulling from a array. how can i pull from a database in real time? right now the GET request to the array is done in real time but would a db be more faster when i have about 1000+ cities ?

 

<?php

 

$q = strtolower($_GET["q"]);

if (!$q) return;

$items = array(

"Great <em>Bittern</em>"=>"Botaurus stellaris",

"Little <em>Grebe</em>"=>"Tachybaptus ruficollis",

"Black-necked Grebe"=>"Podiceps nigricollis",

"Little Bittern"=>"Ixobrychus minutus",

"Black-crowned Night Heron"=>"Nycticorax nycticorax",

"Purple Heron"=>"Ardea purpurea",

"White Stork"=>"Ciconia ciconia",

"Spoonbill"=>"Platalea leucorodia",

"Red-crested Pochard"=>"Netta rufina",

"Common Eider"=>"Somateria mollissima",

"Red Kite"=>"Milvus milvus",

"Solitary Sandpiper"=>"Tringa solitaria",

"Heuglin's Gull"=>"Larus heuglini"

);

 

foreach ($items as $key=>$value) {

    if (strpos(strtolower($key), $q) !== false) {

        echo "$key|$value\n";

    }

}

 

?>

[code=php:0]

[coalgames]

Pulling from a database would require a lot of overhead processing the queries.

 

You might want to make a automated script that pulls from the database and caches it into a script every 5 minutes or so.

 

You would not want to use a database if you arent using a persistent connection.