What are some alternative methods to using MySQL for storing and retrieving smilie codes and corresponding image URLs in PHP applications?

Using a NoSQL database like MongoDB can be a viable alternative to MySQL for storing and retrieving smilie codes and corresponding image URLs in PHP applications. NoSQL databases are known for their flexibility and scalability, making them a good choice for this type of data storage.

// Connect to MongoDB
$mongoClient = new MongoDB\Client("mongodb://localhost:27017");

// Select database and collection
$database = $mongoClient->selectDatabase('my_database');
$collection = $database->selectCollection('smilies');

// Insert a new document
$collection->insertOne([
    'smilie_code' => ':)',
    'image_url' => 'smilies/happy.png'
]);

// Find a document by smilie code
$result = $collection->findOne(['smilie_code' => ':)']);

// Retrieve image URL
$imageUrl = $result['image_url'];
echo $imageUrl;