Schema API

The Schema API allows module developers to declare their database tables in a structured array (similar to the Form API) and provides API functions for creating, dropping, and changing tables, columns, keys, and indexes. This tutorial session will cover:

• the rationale, design, and benefits of the Schema API and data structure,
• how modules should use the Schema API to declare tables,
• how to use the Schema API with the module update mechanism (hookupdateN),
• using the contrib Schema module for simplifying and testing porting Drupal 5 modules,
• using new schema-based data API functions in Drupal 6 such as drupalwriterecord(), and
• future directions and goals for Schema API in Drupal 7 and beyond.

After this session, attendees will have a thorough understanding of how to use the Schema API for module development.