Query in the database - fetching and counting rows in one function?

Question

MySQL

I need to select the last 3 comments for each article. I do it like this.

public function get_stena_comments($id)
        {
                $limit = 3;
                $query = $this->db->get_where('stena_comments', array('parent_id' => $id), $limit);
                return $query->result_array();
        }

And besides, I need to count the total number of comments to the same post. I do so

public function get_count_comments($id)
        {
                $query = $this->db->get_where('stena_comments', array('parent_id' => $id));
                return $query->result_array();
        }

The question is - can this be done more concisely, for example, with one request, rather than writing 2 functions?

Answer 1

Purely logically think how mysql will give you both 3 comments and the total number?
You can do without two functions, but without two requests - no ( no perversions )

Answer 2

Can. Just request ALL comments sorted by id or date, then count their number and take the last 3. All.