How to connect to a database using PHP and MySQL
Connecting to a database using PHP MySQLi is essential to many web applications. It provides a secure and easy way of accessing and managing data on the server. The syntax of PHP MySQLi is as follows:
$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);
if ($conn->connect_error) {
die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error);
}
The mysqli() constructor with four parameters is used to create a new connection to the MySQL database. Here are the different parameters:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| servername | The hostname or IP address of the database server |
| username | The username used to connect to the database |
| password | The password used to connect to the database |
| dbname | The name of the database to connect to |
Now that we have established a connection to the database, we can execute various SQL queries. Here are some usage example:
// Select data
$sql = "SELECT * FROM users";
$result = $conn->query($sql);
if ($result->num_rows > 0) {
while($row = $result->fetch_assoc()) {
echo "Name: " . $row["name"]. " - Email: " . $row["email"]. "
";
}
} else {
echo "0 results";
}
// Insert data
$sql = "INSERT INTO users (name, email) VALUES ('john', 'john@example.com')";
if ($conn->query($sql) === TRUE) {
echo "New record created successfully";
} else {
echo "Error: " . $sql . "
" . $conn->error;
}
// Update data
$sql = "UPDATE users SET name='Doe' WHERE id=1";
if ($conn->query($sql) === TRUE) {
echo "Record updated successfully";
} else {
echo "Error updating record: " . $conn->error;
}
// Delete data
$sql = "DELETE FROM users WHERE id=2";
if ($conn->query($sql) === TRUE) {
echo "Record deleted successfully";
} else {
echo "Error deleting record: " . $conn->error;
}
Here are some technical details to keep in mind when using PHP MySQLi:
| Technical Details | Description |
|---|---|
| Procedural vs Object-oriented | PHP MySQLi supports both procedural and object-oriented approaches to writing queries |
| Security | PHP MySQLi provides a secure way of accessing and managing data on the server |
| Error handling | PHP MySQLi provides a detailed error message whenever a query fails |
| Performance | PHP MySQLi is faster and more efficient than the older MySQL extension |
Written by: Maria Jensen 23-05-2023 Written in: PHP tutorials
This tutorial was super helpful! 😄 I’ve always wanted to learn how to connect to a database using PHP and MySQL, and this step-by-step guide made it so easy to understand . I appreciate the clear explanations and code examples that were provided. Now I feel confident in my ability to create dynamic websites with database integration. Thanks a bunch! 🙌
This tutorial was incredibly helpful for me! I’ve always struggled with connecting to a database using PHP and MySQL, but the step-by-step instructions and clear explanations made it so much easier to understand . The code samples provided were really handy too, as they allowed me to see how the concepts were applied in real-life situations. Overall, this tutorial was a game-changer for me and my database-related projects. I can’t wait to apply what I’ve learned here. Thank you so much for sharing this valuable knowledge!
This article was really helpful! I followed the steps and managed to connect to my database successfully . However, I would have appreciated more detailed explanations for each step, especially for newcomers like me. Additionally, some sample code showcasing how to insert, retrieve, and update data in the database would have been a great addition. Nonetheless, I still found this guide quite valuable in getting me started with PHP and MySQL database connectivity.
This tutorial was incredibly helpful in guiding me through the process of connecting to a database using PHP and MySQL . I had been struggling with this task for a while, but thanks to the step-by-step instructions and clear explanations provided, I was able to successfully establish a connection. The code examples were especially useful in helping me understand the concepts better. I’m grateful for this resource and look forward to exploring more tutorials on BeginnerTuts!