Proper way to escape query in Codeigniter

Question

$sql = ("update Inventory SET  ? = ?+1 WHERE ID= ?");

$query = $this->db->query($sql, array($field,$field,$id))->affected_rows();

The error:

You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near ''Upvotes' = 'Upvotes'+1 WHERE ID= 386464' at line 1

Basically it's adding quotes around the Upvotes field causing it to be a malformed query what's the most practical way to remove the single quotes or rewrite the query entirely?

Answer 1

When possible, try to use CI's query builder to lower the chances of syntax errors. As per Codeigniter Documentation :

$data = array(
    'title' => $title,
    'name' => $name,
    'date' => $date
);

$this->db->where('id', $id);
$this->db->update('Inventory', $data);

In your case, you are probably looking for something like this:

$data = array(
    'Upvotes' => $upvotes + 1
);

$this->db->where('CARD_ID', '386464');
$this->db->update('Inventory', $data);

Now, if you want to run a custom code that you cant run using CI's query builder class, then do this:

$custom_sql = "update Inventory SET Upvotes = Upvotes + 1 WHERE CARD_ID = 86464";
$query = $this->db->query($custom_sql);

Answer 2

The answers here arn't quite right, as they are expecting you to already have the upvote count. I think this is what you're looking for:

$this->db->where('ID', $ID);
$this->db->set('Upvotes', 'Upvotes+1', FALSE);
$this->db->update('Inventory');

Use the line below to confirm the output it should give you something like:

echo $this->db->last_query();

UPDATE Inventory SET Upvotes = Upvotes+1 WHERE ID = 386464

The third paramater of false tells CI to not protect the query with backticks.