Why Should I Avoid Using the mysql_* Functions in PHP?

MySQL Extension Concerns: Why You Shouldn't Rely on mysql_* Functions

The outdated MySQL extension in PHP, including functions like mysql_query(), mysql_connect(), and mysql_real_escape_string(), raises significant technical issues that warrant caution in their usage.

Deprecation and Removal:

As of PHP 5.5, the MySQL extension has been officially deprecated, and it is no longer included in PHP versions 7.0 and above. This means that security updates for this extension have ceased, exposing your code to potential vulnerabilities.

Lack of OO Interface:

Unlike modern extensions, the MySQL extension lacks an object-oriented interface, which can make it more challenging to manage database interactions.

Limited Functionality:

The MySQL extension misses crucial features available in newer extensions, such as:

• Non-blocking queries
• Prepared statements
• Stored procedures
• Multiple statement execution
• Transactions
• New password authentication method

Security Concerns:

The lack of support for prepared statements poses a significant security risk. Prepared statements help prevent SQL injection attacks by separating data from queries. Manually escaping data with mysql_real_escape_string() can be error-prone and less effective.

Migration Recommendations:

To address these concerns, it is highly recommended to transition to newer SQL extensions such as mysqli or PDO. This ensures code compatibility with current and future PHP versions, provides enhanced security, and unlocks access to advanced database functionality.

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