Using backticks around field names

Using backticks permits you to use alternative characters. In query writing it's not such a problem, but if one assumes you can just use backticks, I would assume it lets you get away with ridiculous stuff like

SELECT `id`, `my name`, `another field` , `field,with,comma` 

Which does of course generate badly named tables.

If you're just being concise I don't see a problem with it, you'll note if you run your query as such

EXPLAIN EXTENDED Select foo,bar,baz 

The generated warning that comes back will have back-ticks and fully qualified table names. So if you're using query generation features and automated re-writing of queries, backticks would make anything parsing your code less confused.

I think however, instead of mandating whether or not you can use backticks, they should have a standard for names. It solves more 'real' problems.

Backticks aren't part of standard ANSI SQL. From the mysql manual:

If the ANSI_QUOTES SQL mode is enabled, it is also allowable to quote identifiers within double quotes

So if you use backticks and then decide to move away from MySQL, you have a problem (although you probably have a lot bigger problems as well)

The only problem with backticks is that they are not ANSI-SQL compliant, e.g. they don't work in SQL Server.

If there is a chance you would have to port your SQL to another database, use double quotes.

To me it makes a lot of sense to use them at all times when dealing with field names.

• Firstly, once you get into the habit, it doesn't hurt to just hit the backtick key.
• Secondly, to me, it makes it easier to see what exactly are the fields in your query, and what are keywords or methods.
• Lastly, it allows you to use whatever field name you wish when designing your table. Sometimes it makes a lot of sense to name a field "key", "order", or "values"... all of which require backticks when referring to them.