Database design: Using hundred of fields for little values

Posted by user964260 on Stack Overflow See other posts from Stack Overflow or by user964260
Published on 2011-11-14T01:32:54Z Indexed on 2011/11/14 1:51 UTC
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mysql

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database-design

I'm planning to develop a PHP Web App, it will mainly be used by registered users(sessions)

While thinking about the DB design, I was contemplating that in order to give the best user experience possible there would be lots of options for the user to activate, deactivate, specify, etc.

For example:
- Options for each layout elements, dialog boxes, dashboard, grid, etc.
- color, size, stay visible, invisible, don't ask again, show everytime, advanced mode, simple mode, etc.

This would get like 100s of fields ranging from simple Yes/No or 1 to N values..., for each user.

So, is it having a field for each of these options the way to go?
or how do those CRMs or CMS or other Web Apps do it to store lots of 1-2 char long values?

Do they group them on Text fields separated by a special char and then "explode" them as an array for runtime usage?

thank you

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