Is there a way to set data in multiple records in one query?

[rake]

Originally Posted by WetWired

What I mean is that I would loop and accumulate the UPDATE queries in a string separated by semicolons, then send them all in the same mysql_query call. Does this do anything to minimize overhead?

I know that's what you meant. But i doubt it will have any impact.

Also, people are always talking about the cost of a hack in terms of queries, but I can easily construct a query that will take 10 times longer to execute than another. What gives? I hardly believe that the majority of users concerned with such things aren't using mysql as a library, so I don't understand why the number of queries should be more important than the time spent executing them.

EXACTLY. I'd rather have 10 fast queries than one big slow one. People generally worry too much about the query count.