Basics of PDO - PHP Data Objects

1. What is PDO?

PDO stands for PHP Data Objects. It is an interface for accessing database in PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor). PDO is a class and built-in available to PHP5. PDO supports multiple database access.

PDO - PHP Data Objects - Introduction

To access database server, we have to provide database-specific PDO driver. Following are database names that implement the PDO interface:

• Cubrid
• FreeTDS / Microsoft SQL Server / Sybase
• Firebird
• IBM DB2
• IBM Infomix Dynamic Server
• MySQL 3.x/4.x/5.x
• Oracle Call Interface
• ODBC v3 (IBM DB2, unixODBC and win32 ODBC)
• Postgre SQL
• SQLite3 and SQLite2
• Microsoft SQL Server / SQL Azure
• 4D

All database drivers may not be available on your system. Better is that check available drivers on your system using following statement:

print_r(PDO::getAvailableDrivers());

2. Features of PDO

There are following some features of PHP Data Objects:

• Supports 12 different drivers
• Supports Named parameters
• Supports Prepared Statements
• Security

3. Advantages of PDO

There are many advantages of PDO. Some of them are listed below:

• PDO supports 12 different drivers
• Object Oriented Programming
• Easy to connect with server
• Supports Named parameters and Prepared statements
• Supports stored procedures
• Light-weight
• Well organized code and easy to read
• Built-in available to PHP5 and lateral
• It is secure
• Easy to write code

4. Disadvantages of PDO

If we compare PDO with MySQLi and case of speed of execution then MySQLi wins.


Conclusion:

There are many advantages of PDO. In short we can say that there is no disadvantages of PDO. Decide which is more suitable for you? PDO or MySQLi. I recommend PDO.

Which API are you using PDO or MySQLi? Please Comment below.