What are the advantages and disadvantages of storing static data for a browser game in XML, PHP arrays, or a database like MySQL?

Storing static data for a browser game in XML, PHP arrays, or a database like MySQL each have their own advantages and disadvantages. XML is human-readable and easily editable, but parsing XML can be slower than accessing PHP arrays or a database. PHP arrays are quick and easy to access, but they are not persistent across page loads. Storing data in a database like MySQL allows for efficient querying and data manipulation, but it requires additional setup and maintenance. 

// Storing static data in PHP arrays
$data = [
    'player1' => [
        'name' => 'John Doe',
        'score' => 100
    ],
    'player2' => [
        'name' => 'Jane Smith',
        'score' => 150
    ]
];

// Accessing player1's score
echo $data['player1']['score'];

Keywords

XML PHP arrays MySQL browser game static data

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