How to Insert an Auto-Numeric Key in PHP

An auto-numeric key provides databases with a method to create a unique number for each table record. The number key auto-increments, based on the last number used in a previously inserted row. You insert a new record, and the auto-numeric field automatically increments the identification number and inserts the new number into the table.

Instructions

1. Right-click the PHP file you want to use to insert the auto-number record. Click "Open With," and then click your PHP editor in the list of programs.

2. Create the MySQL connection to the database server. The following code creates a connection to your database server:

   $connection = mysql_connect("server","yourusername","yourpass");

   mysql_select_db("database", $connection);

   Replace "server" with your own database server name. Replace the username and password with your own. The "database" is the database name that contains your tables.

3. Set up the query. The SQL "insert" query inserts a new record into the database. The auto-numeric field is not listed in the query, because the database engine handles the numeric increment. The following code inserts a record:

   $query = "insert into customers (name) values ('joe customer')";

4. Create the new record. The following code inserts the new record:

   mysql_query($query);

5. Close the SQL connection. After you finish using the database, you must close the connection. The following code closes the MySQL connection:

   mysql_close($connection);

References

• W3 Schools: PHP MySQL Insert Into