MySQL vs MySQLi in PHP

If you are looking for a simple answer to MySQL vs MySQLi in PHP, then here is the explanation in simple words. MySQL is deprecated in the newer versions of PHP since PHP 5.5 and above. PHP 7 has completely dropped the old MySQL.

I strongly recommend to use MySQLi from now on. You should also convert your old scripts from MySQL to MySQLi extension.

MySQL vs MySQLi in PHP

MySQL is a PHP extension which we use to interact with the database through the already given PHP MySQL functions. PHP added MySQL in 2.0 version.

MySQLi stands for MySQL improved extension. Since MySQL added more features in MySQL version 4.1.3 so, PHP added this extension to take advantage of these new features.

Differences between MySQLi and MySQL

There are great differences between MySQL and MySQLi and obviously the winner is MySQLi so, here are the few advantages of using MySQLi.

• MySQLi is officially preferred and recommended by MySQL for further developments.
• MySQLi Provides OOP (Object-Oriented Programing) Interface and MySQL is only Procedural.
• MySQLi supports server-side Prepared Statements where MySQL does not.
• MySQLi Supports multiple statements, and MySQL does not.
• It Supports all MySQL 5.1+ functionality where MySQL only supports below MySQL 5.1
• Active development status where MySQL is stopped.

You can read further about MySQLi extension here.

Currently, PHP provides three extensions MySQL, MySQLi and PDO (PHP Data Objects) in order to access database in PHP. I will stick to MySQL vs MYSQLi for now. I will provide more detailed explanation about MySQLi vs PDO in upcoming tutorials.

Conclusion

Professionals recommend to use MySQLi or PDO extension, but even after PDO, The MySQLi is still the most preferred.

You are now well aware of which extension to use for your next PHP applications. You can read next tutorial which will show you the efficient way to connect to database in PHP.