How to refer to database connection in codeigniter?

Question

How can I call manually a PHP database function on CodeIgniter's database handler object? How to retrieve the connection ($dbc), or call a function like mysql_real_escape_string($dbc, $variable)?

Answer 1

You can call any mysql native function and access mysql connection id.

See CodeIgniter User Guide

Answer 2

$this->db->conn_id will get you the current connection link object if you are in a CI context. It will return a mysqli or mysql link object that you can pass into functions like mysql_real_escape_string or the updated mysqli, which actually requires the link object. Source