PHP Best way to cache MySQL results?

Question

I am currently building a PHP framework (original, i know) and im working on some optimisation features for it. One dilema I have come accross is what is the best way to ca

Answer 1

Memcached.

I always try to create my own solution at least once, to grasp better what's going on under the hood in most situations. When I created my own caching solution, I essentially did what you're talking about.

// serialize an array of all results
$serialzedData = serialize($resultData);

// set TTL (60 seconds) and create cache filename with timestamp
$ttl = 60;
$cacheFilename = $ttl . '_' . time() . '_' . md5($sqlQuery)

// dump
file_put_contents($cacheFilename, $serializedData);

Prior to a query firing, it would search the cache directory for files with a matching query hash. If it does, it tests timestamp + ttl <= current_time, and if true, returns the unserialized file contents. Otherwise, overwrite it.