How can a PHP beginner create a search query that searches across multiple tables and columns in a database?

When a PHP beginner needs to create a search query that searches across multiple tables and columns in a database, they can use SQL JOIN statements to combine the tables and specify the columns to search in the WHERE clause. By using JOINs, the beginner can connect related data from different tables and perform a search query that spans multiple tables and columns. 

<?php
// Establish a database connection
$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

// Define the search term
$searchTerm = "keyword";

// Perform a search query across multiple tables and columns
$sql = "SELECT * FROM table1
        JOIN table2 ON table1.id = table2.table1_id
        WHERE table1.column1 LIKE '%$searchTerm%'
        OR table2.column2 LIKE '%$searchTerm%'";

$result = $conn->query($sql);

// Process the search results
if ($result->num_rows > 0) {
    while($row = $result->fetch_assoc()) {
        // Display or process the search results
    }
} else {
    echo "No results found";
}

// Close the database connection
$conn->close();
?>

Keywords

PHP SQL search query multiple tables multiple columns

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