Meet CodeIgniter MY_Model

Regarding the $_POST: the problem with doing this inside the model would be that you may need different validation rules depending on what you want to do (an insert or an update). The solution might be to enter a hidden element in the form in which you tell the model what you want to do - insert, update -, and this way it can choose what validation rules should apply to the data.

Regarding relationships: yes, that is what they are. relations between tables. This way you can do the queries faster (if we talk about simple queries like joins, not complex ones, the reason being exactly what you said, too verbose).

Website: http://avenir.ro