Can You Use MySQL as a Data Store for a Mobile App?

radderfire · 29 Jan 2015 at 18:41

Hi Guys

Can You Use MySQL as the Data Store for a Mobile App?

I'm thinking of creating my first mobile app and just wondered if this was possible.

Thanks

Mynight · 29 Jan 2015 at 18:51

I use MySQL on the server backend of my mobile apps.

I assume that's what you mean rather than a database locally in the app.

touch · 29 Jan 2015 at 22:07

There's a local mobile database server available.
I think it's called SQL-Lite? Never used it myself though.

radderfire · 29 Jan 2015 at 22:09

Can the mobile app use the MySQL database my website uses?

Thanks

Mynight · 29 Jan 2015 at 22:14

Yeah it can. Most likely using the same php scripts in place already.

Only thing without knowing what you're doing/how it's built we can't say for sure.

I had completely forgotten about SQLite. I'm not sure if it's still the case but unless it's a static database every data change/update would require a new update for the app. It wasn't ideal in many situations.

radderfire · 29 Jan 2015 at 22:20

I just need the mobile app to retrieve data from the MySQL database. I know how to do this for websites, but I've never tried a mobile app, and was wondering how different it was.

Rgds

touch · 29 Jan 2015 at 22:24

radderfire said:
I just need the mobile app to retrieve data from the MySQL database. I know how to do this for websites, but I've never tried a mobile app, and was wondering how different it was.

Rgds

Most hosts wont allow external access directly to the database. You'll probably need to do it through a web service or something running on your website.
They might set it up for you if you ask though?

Mynight · 29 Jan 2015 at 22:24

I use JSON to php for my mobile app connections. Or if that would require you mucking around with current website phps you could use httprequests just as easily.

Still depends on how the site is set up.

Edit: I thought direct access to DBs was a big no no :confused:

.

kaku · 29 Jan 2015 at 22:30

Direct access to the DB is a bad idea. You would need to create some intermediary service to act as the bridge between the DB and the mobile app. A common one is a JSON-based REST API. The app queries the web service, which in turn fetches the requested data from the database (after checking it's allowed!!).

radderfire · 30 Jan 2015 at 16:12

OK, thanks guys.

GravyMonster · 30 Jan 2015 at 16:19

As said above a REST API is the way to go. It's a doddle in ASP.Net using WebApi, I'm sure someone will already have made a similar PHP framework to make things simple for you.

Dj_Jestar · 30 Jan 2015 at 17:00

There's a bit of conflation going on here.

What are you looking to store? If it's just stuff like the app's preferences, then no, you don't want to be connecting over the wire to a remote DB.

If it's stuff that will be accessed on different devices and should be the "same" data, then yes you'll want a remote DB.