Choosing a path - pseudo-PHP database or MySQL database?

[Kolusion]

At the moment  I am creating a search function for my website.

The approach I have in mind is a pseudo-PHP database. To give an example:

 

A HTML form will submit the results to a PHP file.

 

HTML FORM - Colour: Black

PHP RESULT PAGE - if ($_POST['color'] == 'Black') {readfile("./products/black/*.html");}

HTML FORM - Price: <$50

PHP RESULT PAGE - if ($_POST['Price'] == '<$50') {readfile("./products/less50/*.html");}

 

The problem here is if there is an item that is black and costs less than $50, then its going to be listed twice. There is probably some code I can write to ommit the listing of duplicate entries, but it is probably going to be messy, so I am wondering if its better to use a centralized MySQL database, rather than a pseudo-PHP database? I've never used MySQL and don't know much about it and this is my first real attempt at using PHP.

[Kolusion]

Double......

[MasterACE14]

maybe you should grasp the basics of PHP first, then decide on how you're going to accomplish this task. Whether or not you will need to use a MySQL database is up to you. If you have a hell of a lot of items then it'd be ideal and convenient, and learning SQL isn't the end of the world. Here's a good place to start... the PHP Manual

[Kolusion]

I don't have time to learn every bit of PHP.. only the things I need.

 

Why do you say MySQL for lots of items?

[MasterACE14]

I don't have time to learn every bit of PHP.. only the things I need.

maybe you should grasp the basics of PHP first

 

The problem here is if there is an item that is black and costs less than $50, then its going to be listed twice. There is probably some code I can write to ommit the listing of duplicate entries, but it is probably going to be messy

 

...

 

Why do you say MySQL for lots of items?

I don't know how many 'items' you have to check, nor do I know why you need to check them. From the information you've provided it sounds like the kind of thing you're looking for.