## SQL Hints

SQL hints can force a query to choose a specific server from the connection pool. It gives the plugin a hint to use a designated server, which can solve issues caused by connection switches and connection state.

SQL hints are standard compliant SQL comments. Because SQL comments are supposed to be ignored by SQL processing systems, they do not interfere with other programs such as the MySQL Server, the MySQL Proxy, or a firewall.

Three SQL hints are supported by the plugin: The `MYSQLND_MS_MASTER_SWITCH` hint makes the plugin run a statement on the master, `MYSQLND_MS_SLAVE_SWITCH` enforces the use of the slave, and `MYSQLND_MS_LAST_USED_SWITCH` will run a statement on the same server that was used for the previous statement.

The plugin scans the beginning of a statement for the existence of an SQL hint. SQL hints are only recognized if they appear at the beginning of the statement.

Example #1 Plugin config with one slave and one master

    {
        "myapp": {
            "master": {
                "master_0": {
                    "host": "localhost",
                    "socket": "\/tmp\/mysql.sock"
                }
            },
            "slave": {
                "slave_0": {
                    "host": "192.168.2.27",
                    "port": "3306"
                }
            }
        }
    }

Example #2 SQL hints to prevent connection switches

`<?php
$mysqli = new mysqli("myapp", "username", "password", "database");
if (mysqli_connect_errno()) {
/* Of course, your error handling is nicer... */
die(sprintf("[%d] %s\n", mysqli_connect_errno(), mysqli_connect_error()));
}
/* Connection 1, connection bound SQL user variable, no SELECT thus run on master */
if (!$mysqli->query("SET @myrole='master'")) {
printf("[%d] %s\n", $mysqli->errno, $mysqli->error);
}
/* Connection 1, run on master because of SQL hint */
if (!($res = $mysqli->query(sprintf("/*%s*/SELECT @myrole AS _role", MYSQLND_MS_LAST_USED_SWITCH)))) {
printf("[%d] %s\n", $mysqli->errno, $mysqli->error);
} else {
$row = $res->fetch_assoc();
$res->close();
printf("@myrole = '%s'\n", $row['_role']);
}
$mysqli->close();
?>`

The above example will output:

    @myrole = 'master'

In the above example, using `MYSQLND_MS_LAST_USED_SWITCH` prevents session switching from the master to a slave when running the `SELECT` statement.

SQL hints can also be used to run `SELECT` statements on the MySQL master server. This may be desired if the MySQL slave servers are typically behind the master, but you need current data from the cluster.

In version 1.2.0 the concept of a service level has been introduced to address cases when current data is required. Using a service level requires less attention and removes the need of using SQL hints for this use case. Please, find more information below in the service level and consistency section.

Example #3 Fighting replication lag

`<?php
$mysqli = new mysqli("myapp", "username", "password", "database");
if (!$mysqli) {
/* Of course, your error handling is nicer... */
die(sprintf("[%d] %s\n", mysqli_connect_errno(), mysqli_connect_error()));
}
/* Force use of master, master has always fresh and current data */
if (!$mysqli->query(sprintf("/*%s*/SELECT critical_data FROM important_table", MYSQLND_MS_MASTER_SWITCH))) {
printf("[%d] %s\n", $mysqli->errno, $mysqli->error);
}
?>`

A use case may include the creation of tables on a slave. If an SQL hint is not given, then the plugin will send `CREATE` and `INSERT` statements to the master. Use the SQL hint `MYSQLND_MS_SLAVE_SWITCH` if you want to run any such statement on a slave, for example, to build temporary reporting tables.

Example #4 Table creation on a slave

`<?php
$mysqli = new mysqli("myapp", "username", "password", "database");
if (!$mysqli) {
/* Of course, your error handling is nicer... */
die(sprintf("[%d] %s\n", mysqli_connect_errno(), mysqli_connect_error()));
}
/* Force use of slave */
if (!$mysqli->query(sprintf("/*%s*/CREATE TABLE slave_reporting(id INT)", MYSQLND_MS_SLAVE_SWITCH))) {
printf("[%d] %s\n", $mysqli->errno, $mysqli->error);
}
/* Continue using this particular slave connection */
if (!$mysqli->query(sprintf("/*%s*/INSERT INTO slave_reporting(id) VALUES (1), (2), (3)", MYSQLND_MS_LAST_USED_SWITCH))) {
printf("[%d] %s\n", $mysqli->errno, $mysqli->error);
}
/* Don't use MYSQLND_MS_SLAVE_SWITCH which would allow switching to another slave! */
if ($res = $mysqli->query(sprintf("/*%s*/SELECT COUNT(*) AS _num FROM slave_reporting", MYSQLND_MS_LAST_USED_SWITCH))) {
$row = $res->fetch_assoc();
$res->close();
printf("There are %d rows in the table 'slave_reporting'", $row['_num']);
} else {
printf("[%d] %s\n", $mysqli->errno, $mysqli->error);
}
$mysqli->close();
?>`

The SQL hint `MYSQLND_MS_LAST_USED` forbids switching a connection, and forces use of the previously used connection.