PHP MySQL Extension - MySqli and PDO

PHP 5 and later can work with a MySQL database using :

MySQLi extension (the "i" stands for improved)
PDO (PHP Data Objects)

Earlier versions of PHP used the MySQL extension. However, this extension was deprecated in 2012.

Should I Use MySQLi or PDO

If you need a quick response, "Whatever you want" will suffice.

Both MySQLi and PDO have their advantages :

MySQLi will only function with MySQL databases, but PDO will operate with 12 different database systems.

MySQLi will supports all features of mysql databases where PDO will not supports all features of mysql databases.

So, PDO simplifies the procedure, if your project has to be switched to another database. You just need to update the link string and a couple of questions. You will require the whole code rewriting with MySQLi, which includes queries.

Although they are both object-oriented, MySQLi also has a procedural API.

Prepared Statements are supported by both. Prepared Statements guard against SQL injection and are critical for online application security.

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PHP MySqli vs PDO

Now we can see a few differences between Mysqli and PDO in the below table.

Features	MySqli	PDO
DB Support	Only MySql (All Version)	12 different databases
API	OOP + Procedural	OOP Only
Recommended for new MySql Projects	Yes - preferred option	Yes
API supports Multiple Statements	Yes	No
Supports all MySQL 4.1+ functionality	Yes	No

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MySQL Examples in Both MySQLi and PDO Syntax

We'll show you three ways to work with PHP and MySQL in this and the subsequent chapters :

MySQLi (object-oriented)
MySQLi (procedural)
PDO

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MySQLi Installation

When the php5 mysql package is installed, the MySQLi extension is usually installed automatically on Linux and Windows.

For installation details, go to: http://php.net/manual/en/mysqli.installation.php.

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