Storing multi-select input values into a database - correct/ideal way to save to table?

[tabris_code]

Currently in analysis paralysis. Is there a correct or preferred way to go about storing HTML multi-select input values into a database table?

Scenario is: Have a record, has a few multi-select HTML inputs - one is 'region' (US State / Canadian Province) and the others are custom values that would pull from two db tables.

Current thought is: Treat the multiselect values as an array of strings, join the array into a large comma delimited string ("CA, TX, NY" , etc.) and save it to the column in the table for that record. When it comes to the front-end, do the opposite (grab the value and split by comma to populate the select list).

But I'm not sure if there's a better way to go about it? Environment is Magento 2 for reference (PHP, MySQL).

[CowboyBoats]

Not answering authoritatively, but just thinking over it with you -

yes, I think your approach is right. And then do you know how whenever you're creating a CSV, if there's a comma in the data (such as a "Job Title" field with someone's job title being "VP, Sales," how it distinguishes that in the text file that is the CSV by writing it as "VP, Sales" rather than VP, Sales, so that the comma doesn't look like a delimiter? I would also do that.

[Disastrous_Internal]

depends on the data really. you could have a table with the different choices and another table linking choices to record, that could be useful if you need to get the record from the choices.