XVIII. DBM Functions

These functions allow you to store records stored in a dbm-style database. This type of database (supported by the Berkeley DB, GDBM, and some system libraries, as well as a built-in flatfile library) stores key/value pairs (as opposed to the full-blown records supported by relational databases).

Example 1. DBM example


$dbm = dbmopen ("lastseen", "w");
if (dbmexists ($dbm, $userid)) {
    $last_seen = dbmfetch ($dbm, $userid);
} else {
    dbminsert ($dbm, $userid, time());
}
do_stuff();
dbmreplace ($dbm, $userid, time());
dbmclose ($dbm);
     

Table of Contents
dbmopen -- Opens a DBM database
dbmclose -- Closes a dbm database
dbmexists --  Tells if a value exists for a key in a DBM database
dbmfetch --  Fetches a value for a key from a DBM database
dbminsert --  Inserts a value for a key in a DBM database
dbmreplace --  Replaces the value for a key in a DBM database
dbmdelete --  Deletes the value for a key from a DBM database
dbmfirstkey --  Retrieves the first key from a DBM database
dbmnextkey --  Retrieves the next key from a DBM database
dblist --  Describes the DBM-compatible library being used