How Can I Efficiently Display a MySQL Table's Last Updated Date on a Web Page?

Displaying the Last Update Time of a MySQL Table on Your Webpage

Need to show the last update time of your MySQL table in your webpage footer? This guide explores efficient methods. Direct database queries are one option, but they require a database connection for each update check.

The Database Query Approach

Modern MySQL versions offer a convenient way to retrieve this information using the information_schema database:

<code class="language-sql">SELECT UPDATE_TIME
FROM   information_schema.tables
WHERE  TABLE_SCHEMA = 'dbname'
   AND TABLE_NAME = 'tabname'</code>

This method, while straightforward, necessitates a database connection for every update check.

Utilizing File Timestamps

A more efficient approach involves creating a timestamp file that updates whenever the MySQL table changes.

Updating the Timestamp File:

Upon a database update:

• Open the timestamp file using O_RDRW mode.
• Close the file. This action updates the file's timestamp.

Alternatively, employ the touch() function to directly modify the file's timestamp.

Displaying the Timestamp on the Webpage:

To display the timestamp on your webpage:

• Use the stat() function to retrieve the file's last modification time. This avoids repeated database queries.

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