MYSQL: Dynamic columns in mysql --> first, last name to full name:

Question

I was wondering if you have two columns for lets say

first name. 
last name.

what you store in the database.

Can you create a 'dynamic' column 'fullname' in the database that automatically creates the name out of the first and last name?

firstname   |lastname   |fullname (this goes automatically)
-----------------------------------------
foo         |bar        |foo bar

why do you want to store this in the database? You can easily create this via a select query. — Taryn
– Taryn, Commented Nov 25, 2012 at 17:20
Then don't keep writing the same sql more than once. Wrap it in a function and call that function instead. — Sergio Tulentsev
– Sergio Tulentsev, Commented Nov 25, 2012 at 17:27
well then you need to do that for each join, different statements ect, you do and would require to go trough all the code again to change the sql with the function — matthy
– matthy, Commented Nov 25, 2012 at 17:47

Sergio Tulentsev · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-25 17:21:07Z

8

If you just want to select the full name, you can do just that:

 select concat(firstname, ' ', lastname) as fullname from users

If you actually want a column (i.e. be able to perform updates against it), then it's not possible, AFAIK.

answered Nov 25, 2012 at 17:21

Sergio Tulentsev

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Comments

Sergio Tulentsev · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-07 20:13:18Z

1

You can try something like this:

 SELECT CONCAT(firstname, ' ', lastname) as firstlast FROM users

Sergio Tulentsev

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answered Nov 25, 2012 at 17:23

Rahul Tripathi

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David Niki · Accepted Answer · 2017-07-22 11:58:53Z

0

This one also makes sure that no empty spaces are added:

SELECT IF(ISNULL(firstname), lastname, CONCAT(firstname, ' ', lastname)) AS fullname FROM users

answered Jul 22, 2017 at 11:58

David Niki

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