Like button

[ken98k]

I know it's been discussed before but, I just find it ridiculous that there is no "like button".

[bestgear]

I know it's been discussed before but, I just find it ridiculous that there is no "like button".

Creating a "like button" functionality using PHP typically involves a combination of front-end (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and back-end (PHP, MySQL) technologies. The core idea is to allow users to register their approval (a "like") for a specific piece of content, and to store and retrieve this information from a database. This is what’s needed (minimally) to make this happen:

Database:
A table to store the content being liked (e.g., posts, articles).
A table to store user information (e.g., users).
A table to link users to liked content (e.g., likes table with user_id and content_id columns).

Front-end (HTML/CSS/JavaScript):
An HTML button or element representing the "like" button.
JavaScript (often with AJAX) to handle the click event and send the like/unlike request to the server without a full page reload.
CSS to style the button and display the like count.

Back-end (PHP/MySQL):
PHP script to receive the AJAX request from the front-end.
PHP code to interact with the MySQL database:
Insert a new record into the likes table when a user likes content.
Remove a record from the likes table when a user unlikes content.
Update the like count for the content (either by counting records in the likes table or by storing a likes_count in the content table).
Retrieve the current like count for display.
Handle user authentication to ensure only logged-in users can like/unlike.

Example Flow:
A user clicks the "like" button on a post.
JavaScript sends an AJAX request to a PHP script (e.g., like.php), passing the post_id and user_id.
like.php receives the request.
It checks if the user has already liked the post.
If not, it inserts a new record into the likes table.
If yes (meaning they are unliking), it deletes the corresponding record from the likes table.
like.php then returns the updated like count or a success/failure message to the JavaScript.
JavaScript updates the displayed like count on the page without a full refresh.

AAPK has 1 developer, a “like” button may be on the enhancement list but well below other priorities.

[doglegg]

I know it's been discussed before but, I just find it ridiculous that there is no "like button".

Creating a "like button" functionality using PHP typically involves a combination of front-end (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and back-end (PHP, MySQL) technologies. The core idea is to allow users to register their approval (a "like") for a specific piece of content, and to store and retrieve this information from a database. This is what’s needed (minimally) to make this happen:

Database:
A table to store the content being liked (e.g., posts, articles).
A table to store user information (e.g., users).
A table to link users to liked content (e.g., likes table with user_id and content_id columns).

Front-end (HTML/CSS/JavaScript):
An HTML button or element representing the "like" button.
JavaScript (often with AJAX) to handle the click event and send the like/unlike request to the server without a full page reload.
CSS to style the button and display the like count.

Back-end (PHP/MySQL):
PHP script to receive the AJAX request from the front-end.
PHP code to interact with the MySQL database:
Insert a new record into the likes table when a user likes content.
Remove a record from the likes table when a user unlikes content.
Update the like count for the content (either by counting records in the likes table or by storing a likes_count in the content table).
Retrieve the current like count for display.
Handle user authentication to ensure only logged-in users can like/unlike.

Example Flow:
A user clicks the "like" button on a post.
JavaScript sends an AJAX request to a PHP script (e.g., like.php), passing the post_id and user_id.
like.php receives the request.
It checks if the user has already liked the post.
If not, it inserts a new record into the likes table.
If yes (meaning they are unliking), it deletes the corresponding record from the likes table.
like.php then returns the updated like count or a success/failure message to the JavaScript.
JavaScript updates the displayed like count on the page without a full refresh.

AAPK has 1 developer, a “like” button may be on the enhancement list but well below other priorities.

[bestgear]

1. select quote button
2. select thumbs up emoji
3. hit submit

I’m exhausted

[peanut740]

1. select quote button
2. select thumbs up emoji
3. hit submit

I’m exhausted

[1967redrider]

That is exactly how I let someone know I like their post.

[bestgear]

That is exactly how I let someone know I like their post.

[Mumbleypeg]

I thought that was what the was for! Easy enough for me.

Ken

[bestgear]

I thought that was what the was for! Easy enough for me

[ken98k]

are emo cons, and while we do use them as like buttons, that's not what they are.

[bestgear]

are emo cons, and while we do use them as like buttons, that's not what they are.

100% in agreement just as AAPK is a genre specific online forum and not a social media platform

[Jeepergeo]

I hope this site stays true to its mission and does not go down the antisocial media rabbit hole.

Those needing to collect "Likes" on their posts can get what they yearn for on Face page or Instagram.

[SwedgeHead]

I almost feel that excellent write-up may have taken longer then the development.

[bestgear]

I almost feel that excellent write-up may have taken longer then the development.

you are way off, testing alone takes days, not a minor enhancement but not a major one either, involves some thinking and planning - I hope we never get so lazy that 3 clicks is burdensome.

[Dinadan]

I know it's been discussed before but, I just find it ridiculous that there is no "like button".

The way I see it, a like button will let someone say I like this post: but not enough to bother hitting the reply button and typing nice knife or good photo or cogent point or cool or even hitting an emogi icon. I question the value of that. If someone will not type in even one word of response, do they really like the post?

When I start a thread, I can pretty well judge how well it is liked by the number of replies and views. If I get three replies and fifty views, folks did not like that thread and no number of like button hits can change that.

[SwedgeHead]

I almost feel that excellent write-up may have taken longer then the development.

you are way off, testing alone takes days, not a minor enhancement but not a major one either, involves some thinking and planning - I hope we never get so lazy that 3 clicks is burdensome.

OH I was kidding Tom, and I totally agree, its more fun and interactive to leave a message or emoji.
Swedge - Sr. technical solutions architect- international software development

[bestgear]

Sr. technical solutions architect- international software development

[Miller Bro's]

The way I see it, a like button will let someone say I like this post: but not enough to bother hitting the reply button and typing nice knife or good photo or cogent point or cool or even hitting an emogi icon. I question the value of that. If someone will not type in even one word of response, do they really like the post?

When I start a thread, I can pretty well judge how well it is liked by the number of replies and views. If I get three replies and fifty views, folks did not like that thread and no number of like button hits can change that.

My thoughts exactly. I have been saying it for a decade, lack of participation makes for a boring forum.

If you can't take sixty seconds to post a short reply to someone's post then there's no interaction.

I hope we NEVER get a "like" button!!

YMMV

[bestgear]

I hope we NEVER get a "like" button!

I agree Dimitri The like button changed the world by creating a metric for social validation, driving surveillance capitalism through data-driven advertising, fostering user-generated content, gamifying user experience, contributing to filter bubbles, and having significant psychological impacts on individuals, especially adolescents. It shifted from a simple expression of preference to a complex system influencing user behavior, economies, and even political landscapes.

I don’t think AAPK needs or wants a like button, YMMV.

[edgy46]

I hope we NEVER get a "like" button!

I agree Dimitri The like button changed the world by creating a metric for social validation, driving surveillance capitalism through data-driven advertising, fostering user-generated content, gamifying user experience, contributing to filter bubbles, and having significant psychological impacts on individuals, especially adolescents. It shifted from a simple expression of preference to a complex system influencing user behavior, economies, and even political landscapes.

I don’t think AAPK needs or wants a like button, YMMV.

What they said

[bighomer]

x10

[OLDE CUTLER]

x10

I know I would never use it.

[JustEd]

1. select quote button
2. select thumbs up emoji
3. hit submit

I’m exhausted

[rea1eye]

I hope we NEVER get a "like" button!

I agree Dimitri The like button changed the world by creating a metric for social validation



I like it when people give a small narrative when they like it. The like button does too little in us
having a good knife forum conversation. Conversation is what it is all about.........

Bob

[Rookie]

I read on BladeForums that when they added in the "like button" feature that conversations fell off noticeably. People hit the "like" and move on. A lot less back and forth communication. You also get the people who hit the "like" on every post from every member every day, which sort of goes against the whole point of it.