mysql_fetch_assoc v MYSQL_ASSOC

[wright67uk]

Would both of the below snippets do the same job, if so why are both ways taught in text books, can one method do somthing that the other cannot?

 

mysql_fetch_array($result, MYSQL_ASSOC))

 

And...

 

mysql_fetch_assoc($result)

[WebStyles]

mysql_fetch_array allows you to fetch a numeric array, an associative one or both at the same time. mysql_fetch_assoc only fetches the associative one. Your example will produce the same result. According to the manual on php.net  mysql_fetch_assoc was only introduced in php 4.0.3, but it makes things easier to fetch associative results (most commonly used, less typing involved now)

 

EDIT: quote from the manual:

mysql_fetch_assoc() is equivalent to calling mysql_fetch_array() with MYSQL_ASSOC for the optional second parameter