dynamic sql

Is it possible to do a sort of dynamic sql. For instance, if I have a form with a bunch of field/data variables and I send them to a php processor, can I just create a loop to have it update all the fields without having to specify each field. In scratch code, I guess I'm looking for something like this: sql = "UPDATE my_table SET $table_field_name = $table_field_value WHERE table_id = $table_id" If you see how I'm trying to make the field name a dynamic variable, then you can see what I'm trying to do. I have no problem with the dynamic field value, it's just the dynamic field name that I'm not sure how/if I can create it dynamically. Can anyone help with this? Or can anyone tell me it can't be done? Thanks Mike