# Sequential UPDATE to a single entry

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/sequential-update-to-a-single-entry/266776>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [July 24, 2008, 7:14am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/sequential-update-to-a-single-entry/266776 "2008-07-24T07:14:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![unikrl8](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/unikrl8/32/548_2.png) [@unikrl8](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/unikrl8)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 7:14am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/sequential-update-to-a-single-entry/266776/1 "2008-07-24T07:14:34Z")

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I have a script that runs several queries to the DB to UPDATE a specific entry in a for loop.  
Each UPDATE is adding about 1MB to a column, and I’m afraid that the next UPDATE is sent before the first one is finished writing.

…is that even possible? or does PHP wait for a return from the mysql\_query before continuing?

Is there some way to create a “waiting list” for my queries to make sure the first one finishes before the next one tries to write?

I think it might be related to LOCK TABLES or START TRANSACTION - but the documentation was confusing.

I’m using MySQL 4.1.11

Thanks,  
-Karl