# Array data type----What can Be Done

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/array-data-type-what-can-be-done/185885>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [March 28, 2010, 12:49pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/array-data-type-what-can-be-done/185885 "2010-03-28T12:49:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kevid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@kevid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/kevid)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 12:49pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/array-data-type-what-can-be-done/185885/1 "2010-03-28T12:49:56Z")

</div>

Hi all,

please i have an array in my rails application (for example; $x = [23,  
how, this,56, you, nice])

I want to store it in a mysql database as a SINGLE RECORD with a  
name .

thus i can get each array with its name and still be able to access  
the array like an array

i.e $x[0] # =\> 23  
$x[1] # =\> how

…and so on

I don’t know what DATA TYPE to use and how to do it.

any sugesstion is welcomed.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kevid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@kevid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/kevid)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 1:48pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/array-data-type-what-can-be-done/185885/2 "2010-03-28T13:48:27Z")

</div>

you can take varchar dear i hope it will work…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kevid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@kevid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/kevid)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/array-data-type-what-can-be-done/185885/3 "2010-03-28T14:12:27Z")

</div>

Am 28.03.2010 um 10:38 schrieb kevid:

> $x[1] # =\> how
> 
> …and so on
> 
> I don’t know what DATA TYPE to use and how to do it.

See “Saving arrays, hashes, and other non-mappable objects in text  
columns” in [ActiveRecord::Base](http://api.rubyonrails.org/classes/ActiveRecord/Base.html)

Felix

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kevid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@kevid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/kevid)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/array-data-type-what-can-be-done/185885/4 "2010-03-28T18:35:12Z")

</div>

Why is the name of your variable starting with ‘$’?

Names starting with ‘$’ are reserved for environment variables. I’m  
not sure about ‘$x’ but you better follow ruby and rails guidelines  
for naming variables or you may be asking for trouble.