Choosing an API
Concepts
Overview of the MySQL PHP drivers
PHP Manual

# Choosing a library

The mysqli, PDO_MySQL and mysql PHP extensions are lightweight wrappers on top of a C client library. The extensions can either use the mysqlnd library or the libmysqlclient library. Choosing a library is a compile time decision.

The mysqlnd library is part of the PHP distribution since 5.3.0. It offers features like lazy connections and query caching, features that are not available with libmysqlclient, so using the built-in mysqlnd library is highly recommended. See the mysqlnd documentation for additional details, and a listing of features and functionality that it offers.

Example #1 Configure commands for using mysqlnd or libmysqlclient

    // Recommended, compiles with mysqlnd
    $ ./configure --with-mysqli=mysqlnd --with-pdo-mysql=mysqlnd --with-mysql=mysqlnd

    // Not recommended, compiles with libmysqlclient
    $ ./configure --with-mysqli=/path/to/mysql_config --with-pdo-mysql=/path/to/mysql_config --with-mysql=/path/to/mysql_config

Library feature comparison

It is recommended to use the mysqlnd library instead of the MySQL Client Server library (libmysqlclient). Both libraries are supported and constantly being improved.

| MySQL native driver (mysqlnd) | MySQL client server library (libmysqlclient)
--- | --- | ---
Part of the PHP distribution | Yes | No
PHP version introduced | 5.3.0 | N/A
License | PHP License 3.01 | Dual-License
Development status | Active | Active
Lifecycle | No end announced | No end announced
PHP 5.4 compile default (for all MySQL extensions) | Yes | No
PHP 5.3 compile default (for all MySQL extensions) | No | Yes
Compression protocol support | Yes (5.3.1+) | Yes
SSL support | Yes (5.3.3+) | Yes
Named pipe support | Yes (5.3.4+) | Yes
Non-blocking, asynchronous queries | Yes | No
Performance statistics | Yes | No
LOAD LOCAL INFILE respects the open_basedir directive | Yes | No
Uses PHP's native memory management system (e.g., follows PHP memory limits) | Yes | No
Return numeric column as double (COM_QUERY) | Yes | No
Return numeric column as string (COM_QUERY) | Yes | Yes
Plugin API | Yes | Limited
Read/Write splitting for MySQL Replication | Yes, with plugin | No
Load Balancing | Yes, with plugin | No
Fail over | Yes, with plugin | No
Lazy connections | Yes, with plugin | No
Query caching | Yes, with plugin | No
Transparent query manipulations (E.g., auto-EXPLAIN or monitoring) | Yes, with plugin | No

Choosing an API
Concepts
Overview of the MySQL PHP drivers
PHP Manual