Automatically trimming length of string submitted to MySQL

Question

When I submit a form field to a mySQL database is there a way to set the database to automatically discard any data in excess of the data field length?

I know I can

Answer 1

MySQL by default does this already! It shouldn't in my view, but it does.

If it is giving you error messages instead of just truncating the data, then perhaps traditional mode is on. Run SELECT @@SESSION.sql_mode and see what it says. If it spits out

STRICT_TRANS_TABLES, STRICT_ALL_TABLES, NO_ZERO_IN_DATE, NO_ZERO_DATE, ERROR_FOR_DIVISION_BY_ZERO, NO_AUTO_CREATE_USER

then it is in traditional mode; issue SET SESSION sql_mode='' every time you connect, or connect using an account with SUPER privileges and issue SET GLOBAL sql_mode='modes'.