PDO vs MySQLi: Which to Choose?

When connecting PHP to a MySQL database, you can choose between PDO (PHP Data Objects) and MySQLi (MySQL Improved). In short: PDO works with multiple database systems and offers a flexible, object-oriented approach, while MySQLi is built specifically for MySQL and can be used both procedurally and object-oriented. For new projects, PDO is usually the wiser choice due to its flexibility and prepared statements that protect against SQL injection.