HTML dbtree implements an efficient method to manipulate hierarchical data stored in SQL databases tables by using preordered tree records. It is a more efficient method to add, remove and retrieve data that form trees of records, than using the traditional recursive way to manage trees using only a field parent that is really mich more resource consuming as it may require the execution of many database queries.

HTML dbtree lets you retrieve a complete tree structure from your database table with a single query. Only tree changes require more than one query. This class can also use the tree record retrieval functions to generate HTML select input fields that present an hierarchy of options.

Currently, HTML dbtree requires the use mysqldb or sqlitedb class also available in this site, but it could be easily adapted to use other database access classes.