# mysql_list_fields

(PHP 4, PHP 5, PECL mysql:1.0)

mysql_list_fields — List MySQL table fields

### Description

resource mysql_list_fields ( string `$database_name` , string `$table_name` [, resource `$link_identifier` ] )

Retrieves information about the given table name.

This function is deprecated. It is preferable to use mysql_query() to issue a SQL SHOW COLUMNS FROM table [LIKE 'name'] statement instead.

### Parameters

`database_name`

  The name of the database that's being queried.

`table_name`

  The name of the table that's being queried.

`link_identifier`

  The MySQL connection. If the link identifier is not specified, the last link opened by mysql_connect() is assumed. If no such link is found, it will try to create one as if mysql_connect() was called with no arguments. If by chance no connection is found or established, an `E_WARNING` level warning is generated.

### Return Values

A result pointer resource on success, or `FALSE` on failure.

The returned result can be used with mysql_field_flags(), mysql_field_len(), mysql_field_name() and mysql_field_type().

### Examples

Example#1 Alternate to deprecated mysql_list_fields()

`<?php
$result = mysql_query("SHOW COLUMNS FROM sometable");
if (!$result) {
echo 'Could not run query: ' . mysql_error();
exit;
}
if (mysql_num_rows($result) > 0) {
while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($result)) {
print_r($row);
}
}
?>`

The above example will output something similar to:

    Array
    (
        [Field] => id
        [Type] => int(7)
        [Null] =>
        [Key] => PRI
        [Default] =>
        [Extra] => auto_increment
    )
    Array
    (
        [Field] => email
        [Type] => varchar(100)
        [Null] =>
        [Key] =>
        [Default] =>
        [Extra] =>
    )

### Notes

> Note: For downward compatibility, the following deprecated alias may be used: mysql_listfields()

### See Also

- mysql_field_flags()
- mysql_info()