Hey guys,

I was wondering whether or not MySql could automatically empty all the data from a table after say, 3 hours. Even though the user isn't looking at the website.

eg. Bob uses the site, inputs some temporary data (that isnt ment to be stored forever) then closes the browser and goes to bed.
He wakes up in the morning and goes back to the site, and his data is gone.

Would you just put a check at the top of the php page to see what the time is now, check it against what time the data was inputted into the database, and then just empty it? Or can it be done all automatically?

You can store data in sessions variables and then set those to expire after a certain amount of time?

There will be a lot of data that needs to be stored. Is there a limited amount that can be stored in sessions?
Also the database would allow multiple entries into the database by the same person.
So if someone makes a monster called "grosh", gives him 5 arms, 2 mouths and 3 legs.
They can then make another monster and temporarily store both of them. Then can make them fight each other, which ever wins they can store permanently. Or they can make the temporary ones to fight the permanent ones. Then if one isnt very good, the user doesnt have to delete it. They can just leave it and it will be removed after some time.

I was wondering whether or not MySql could automatically empty all the data from a table after say, 3 hours.

No.
You have to setup a recurring job (know as cron jobs in the unix world) that will take care of it.

Cool, thankyou.

I think I've found a way around it that works for the best.
It will ask if they want to continue with an existing monster. If they dont, it deletes all the data.

Gives people an option to start fresh, or one they already made.