sprintf_vs_without.php

<?php

$distinct = "DISTINCT"; // or empty
$columns = "a, b, c"; // columns
$table = "thetable"; // table to retrieve content from
$delete = false; // Fetch records marked deleted
$conditions = ""; // Series of conditions
$orderCol = "a"; // Order by
$orderDir = "ASC"; // Order by ASC/DESC
$limit = ""; // Optional limit number

$sql = sprintf(
    "
SELECT %s %s
FROM %s
WHERE deleted = %d AND %s
ORDER BY %s %s %s",
    $distinct,
    $columns,
    $table,
    $delete,
    $conditions,
    $orderCol,
    $orderDir,
    $limit ? sprintf("LIMIT %d", $limit) : ""
);

// vs

$sql = "
SELECT $distinct $columns
FROM $table
WHERE deleted = " . (int) $delete . " AND $conditions
ORDER BY $orderCol $orderDir " . (
    $limit ? "LIMIT " . (int) $limit : ""
);