Difference between row_array and result_array

  1. result_array()

    Returns the query result as a pure array. Typically you’ll use this in a foreach loop.

  2. row_array()

    Returns a single result row. If your query has more than one row, it returns only the first row.
    Identical to the row() method, except it returns an array.


From the documentation, row_array returns a single result and result_array returns multiple results (usually for use in a loop).

Examples from the documentation:

Result_array:

$query = $this->db->query("YOUR QUERY");

foreach ($query->result_array() as $row)
{
   echo $row['title'];
   echo $row['name'];
   echo $row['body'];
}

Row_array:

$query = $this->db->query("YOUR QUERY");

if ($query->num_rows() > 0)
{
   $row = $query->row_array(); 

   echo $row['title'];
   echo $row['name'];
   echo $row['body'];
}