&key and how it's used

Hi all,

   I'm reading this chapter of gigamonkeys.

http://www.gigamonkeys.com/book/practical-a-simple-database.html

2/3 down the page, I see the following methods:

http://bin.cakephp.org/view/1169646936

Now, where I'm drawing a complete and utter blank is 1) how *db* is
accessed, that's where all the data is held and 2) what the heck is &key?

If I'm missing something absurdly obvious, please feel free to point it out.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Live Security Virtual Conference
Exclusive live event will cover all the ways today's security and 
threat landscape has changed and how IT managers can respond. Discussions 
will include endpoint security, mobile security and the latest in malware 
threats. http://www.accelacomm.com/jaw/sfrnl04242012/114/50122263/

_______________________________________________
clisp-devel mailing list
[email protected]
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/clisp-devel