MySQLi vs. MySQL: When Should You Choose the Improved Extension?

Reasons to Prefer MySQLi over MySQL

When working with MySQL, choosing the appropriate PHP extension is crucial. MySQLi, the successor to the MySQL extension, offers significant advantages that make it the preferred choice in many situations.

Advantages of MySQLi:

• Enhanced Security: MySQLi provides prepared statements, which safeguard against SQL injection attacks by preventing the insertion of untrusted data directly into queries.
• Code Reusability: Its object-oriented design allows for code reusability, leading to cleaner and more maintainable code.
• Extended Functionality: MySQLi supports a wider range of MySQL features, including transactions and multiple statements.
• Deprecation: The MySQL extension was deprecated in PHP 5.5.0, making MySQLi the recommended option moving forward.

Situations to Avoid MySQLi:

While MySQLi is generally preferred, there are a few scenarios where MySQL may still be appropriate:

• Legacy Code: Existing code that relies heavily on the MySQL extension may benefit from compatibility with the older interface.
• Performance-Critical Environments: In rare cases where performance is of utmost importance, MySQL may offer marginally better speed.

Server Configuration:

Using MySQLi does not require any specific server configuration changes. However, it's recommended to keep your operating system, Apache, and PHP versions up-to-date for optimal performance and security.

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