Mysql search speed

[klepec]

I have two databases, lets name them database ONE and database TWO.

Every database record has an id of its author (user). There are no limits for records per user.

 

I would like to run a statistics page for each user.

 

For example, when John logs in:

 

John | 20 of A (list) | 150 of B (list)

demo code:

 

$a = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM A WHERE userID='$userID'");
$b = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM B WHERE userID='$userID'");

$a_num=mysql_num_rows($a);
$b_num=mysql_num_rows($b);

$echo "$userID | $a_num of A <a href='/a/$userID'>(list)</a> | $b_num of B <a href='/b/$userID'>(list)</a> ";

 

So, is check for number of records an optimal solution when number of database records come to few hundred or maybe thousand?

Is there any better way to run statistics? Maybe a separate database which counts records for each user?

 

Thanks in advance

[Pikachu2000]

Don't select data you aren't going to use. Use COUNT().

[litebearer]

http://www.tizag.com/mysqlTutorial/mysqlcount.php