Define CRUD Operations - What is a CRUD?

CRUD is an acronym that stands for Create, Read, Update, Delete. These are the four basic operations that can be performed on data in a database:

  • Create: Adding new records to the database. This operation is essential for inserting new data entries.
  • Read: Retrieving existing records from the database. This operation allows you to view and fetch data.
  • Update: Modifying existing records in the database. This operation is used to change or edit existing data.
  • Delete: Removing existing records from the database. This operation is used to delete data that is no longer needed.

CRUD operations are essential for managing data in applications and are commonly used in database management systems. Understanding these fundamental operations is crucial for effective data management.

What is a CRUD?

CRUD is a term used in database management that refers to the four basic functions of persistent storage. These operations are the foundation of any database interaction and are critical for the functionality of applications that rely on data.


Usefulness of CRUD applications

Who uses them?

All companies or people who need to manipulate data use it, in different forms and most of the time without knowing it.
If you use a software to manage a stock of products, the list of your customers, your invoices, ... then it is a CRUD application.
Your software saves your data internally in a database, whatever its format (MySQL, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, ...). You can:

  • Add new records (CREATE), e.g. create an invoice
  • Display them in tables, order your list or perform searches (READ)
  • Modify them, e.g. record the status of a paid invoice (UPDATE)
  • And finally delete them (DELETE)

This type of application is very common, used by all companies regardless of their sector of activity and size.

Software or web application?

Most of the software specialized according to the sector of activity, management or accounting software are used as software, installed on operating system (OS). However, there are more and more web applications that are capable of performing these tasks. All administrable websites, all programs available on the web in SaaS are actually CRUD web applications.

A few examples

  • Online sales websites: the admin dashboard allows to manage products (prices, stock, photos, descriptions, ...), customer accounts, orders, etc...
  • Customer Relation Management: customer management, points of sale, human resources, services, marketing strategies, ...
  • Associations: membership management, registration, membership fees, schedule, organization, ...
  • Presentation websites: you are a photographer, a translator, a graphic designer, you organize events, ...

Whatever your professional activity, a web app. is always necessary to manage your data, present your services, your achievements, manage your clientele or organize your schedule.

How it works

Most CRUD applications use PHP functions that the user must program to perform each task:

  • Create a new record
  • Read some records
  • Update some existing records
  • Delete records

These tasks are called "CRUD operations".

For example, to retrieve the contents of a database table and display the list of records, you will need to use this type of code:

    $data = new CRUD();
    $data->getTable('my-table');
    $data->showList();

This basic example shows that it is easy to create and display a record list with the most common CRUD apps.

But most of the time you will need more complex features to build your lists:

  • display readable field names
  • filter and sort results
  • display relational table fields
  • format dates
  • display images
  • group some fields in nested tables
  • edit some fields "in place" rather than with the update form
  • hide some fields that you don't want to show to the admin end-user
  • convert some values
  • ...

These features are commonly provided through PHP basic functions that you will need to program & configure according to your needs, for each table and field.

All these operations can quickly become complex to program, it will be necessary to take the time to check each table, each field to use the relevant functions.

This is where PHP CRUD Generator can help you!

Importance of Defining CRUD

When we define CRUD operations clearly, it helps in structuring the development process of any database-driven application. By having a well-defined set of CRUD operations, developers can ensure that the application can handle all necessary data manipulations efficiently.

Defining CRUD operations also aids in:

  • Consistency: Ensuring that data manipulation follows a standardized approach.
  • Maintainability: Making it easier to update and maintain the codebase.
  • Scalability: Allowing the application to handle growing amounts of data and users.
  • Security: Implementing proper access controls and data validation to protect the data.

In summary, to define CRUD is to lay the foundation for robust and efficient database management within your application. It is a critical step in the development process that ensures the application can meet its data handling requirements effectively.

What makes PHPCG different from most other CRUD applications?

It's a smart application.

PHPCG performs an intelligent analysis of your database and generates all the code for you.

It analyzes your entire database and detects tables, direct and indirect relationships, fields, field types and expected values

From there, the application will generate the crud logic: MySQL queries, PHP objects, forms, data validation, rendering templates,...

It provides a simple and user-friendly GUI (graphical user interface)

The generator is presented as an online application, and allows you to configure your lists and forms.

  1. 1Choose the table of your database to use
  2. 2Choose your preferences for each field
  3. 3 Validate to generate the CRUD PHP app.

The Bootstrap Admin Panel is Highly customizable

The Generator provides a simple settings form that allows to customize the most important things: Languages, Project settings, skin and various others options.

The Bootstrap Admin Panel code is well-organized, clean and customizable by anyone who understand PHP, HTML, CSS, jQuery, Bootstrap.

the structure and logic are detailed in the different parts of this documentation and the tutorials

Bootstrap Admin Panel Authentication, Users and Profiles management

PHPCG includes an authentication and user profile management module and a complete administration interface ready to host your data.

PHP CRUD tutorial main page