What is the Difference Between MySQL and MySQLi Extension?

MySQL and MySQLi are PHP database extensions used for accessing MySQL databases. They have some key differences in terms of performance, features, and security. Here are the main differences between MySQL and MySQLi:

1. Performance: MySQLi is generally considered to be faster than MySQL.
2. Interfaces: MySQL provides a procedural interface, while MySQLi provides both procedural and object-oriented interfaces.
3. Stored Procedures: MySQL does not support stored procedures, whereas MySQLi does.
4. Prepared Statements: MySQL does not support prepared statements, but MySQLi does.
5. Deprecation: MySQL extension is deprecated as of PHP 5.5.0 and will not be available in future PHP versions. It is recommended to use MySQLi with PHP 5.5 and above.
6. Security: MySQLi has enhanced security and improved debugging compared to MySQL.
7. Transactions: MySQL handles transactions through SQL queries only, while MySQLi supports transactions through an API.
8. Development Status: MySQL is in maintenance mode and not recommended for new development, while MySQLi is actively developed and maintained.
9. Recommendation: The PHP team recommends using either MySQLi or PDO_MySQL for new development and not the old MySQL extension.

In summary, MySQLi is an improved version of MySQL, offering better performance, increased security, and support for stored procedures and prepared statements. It is recommended for new development, while MySQL is deprecated and should not be used for new projects.

Comparative Table: MySQL vs MySQLi Extension

Here is a table comparing the differences between the MySQL and MySQLi extensions:

MySQLi is an improved version of the original MySQL extension, offering enhanced features, security, and performance. It is recommended to use the MySQLi extension with PHP 5.5 and above, as the MySQL extension is deprecated and will not be available in future PHP versions.