PHP: file vs database

[been_1990]

I am about to create a php app that manages articles, does it make a difference if I use a database to store the articles, or if I just use files stored on the server?

[Templarian]

You will want to use a database, flat files tend to be a hassle later on as sites grow. With a database you can expand more easily for tagging pages and sorting articles in general if you need the features later on.

If you lack a database on your host you can simply use SQLite3 (file database). It isn't recommended for larger sites, but if your site is small enough that flat files were an option you should be fine.