PHP/MYSQL - Multiple connections to the same database?

Question

I have two files:

config.php:

$con = mysqli_connect("$dbhost","$dbuser","$dbpass","$dbname");

ads.php (config.php require_once):

$query1 = mysqli_query($con,"SELECT * From XXXX where id = 'XXXX'");

$query2 = mysqli_query($con,"SELECT * FROM XXXX2 WHERE id = 'XXXX2'");

I have more than 40 different queries mysqli_query() using $con. Please keep in mind that all my logic is procedural style, not object oriented.

My two questions are:

1. am I connecting to the DB using a different connection on every query? Or just once when the first one is executed? Is there a better way to do this?

2. I understand that it is not mandatory to close a mysql connection since it closes itself, however since we have millions of consults sometimes a few can hang and stay for more than 10 seconds after the user left the PHP file. If I wanted to close a connection, should I put mysqli_close($con) at the end of the file (after the 40 consults) or at the end of each consult (40 times)?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Answer 1

You are reusing the connection initiated in mysqli_connect.

A better way could be to use or create a DataHandler and implement PDOs. It could allow you to perform timing analytics on queries, automate binding parameters, destroy the connection once its finished with etc.

Call mysqli_close($con) at the end of the file. Also null $con to mark for garbage collection.

Once finished with the information from each step you could also call; mysqli_free_result($query1) to free memory associated to the statement handle