I always keep things simple to start with, so I wouldn't bother with separate tables - it's more to keep track of, and if you're then required to do joins, it's more expensive, and you have the added complexity of harder to read ORM queries, and it's more difficult to read the database raw.

Some other options:

• Use the ENUM type in your User table columns, to store the properties
• Have a single key/value table called profile_properties where you store all your seed values in one table
• Use basic string columns, and store your attributes in a configuration file (less good for data integrity, but easier to edit and more flexible)
• If you want to keep the Users table light, have a separate Profiles table, which link 1:1 to your Users table. You can then just read this when you need to, or do a very easy select from both tables.

Save the complex stuff for when you need it. I don't think a user profile warrants it!

Hi Dave, The user/profile is currently separate which links 1:1, however the are quite a lot of attributes for the profile, think dating website amount of attributes, with things for all kinds of stuff like hair color and such, what would be the best method with that amount of attributes