How to Resolve the 'mysqli_stmt::bind_param() Expected to be a Reference, Value Given' Error?

mysqli bind_param() Parameter Reference Error: Resolving with RefValues Function

Why am I receiving the error "mysqli_stmt::bind_param() expected to be a reference, value given"?

The error "mysqli_stmt::bind_param() expected to be a reference, value given" occurs when you try to pass a variable or value by value to the bind_param() method, which expects a reference. This issue can arise when using call_user_func_array() to pass multiple parameters to bind_param().

Understanding the Issue

MySQLi functions, including bind_param(), require variables passed as references for optimal performance. However, call_user_func_array() expects parameters as values. This mismatch in expectations leads to the error.

Solution: Using RefValues() function

To resolve this issue, you can use the refValues() function, which converts an array of values into an array of references. Here's an example:

function refValues($arr){
    if (strnatcmp(phpversion(),'5.3') >= 0) //Reference is required for PHP 5.3+
    {
        $refs = array();
        foreach($arr as $key => $value)
            $refs[$key] = &$arr[$key];
        return $refs;
    }
    return $arr;
}

$query = "INSERT INTO test (id,row1,row2,row3) VALUES (?,?,?,?)";
$params = array(1,"2","3","4");
$param_type = "isss";
$sql_stmt = mysqli_prepare ($mysqli, $query);
call_user_func_array('mysqli_stmt_bind_param', array_merge(array($sql_stmt, $param_type), refValues($params)));
mysqli_stmt_execute($sql_stmt);

Alternative Solution: Using Spread Operator

In newer versions of PHP, you can use the spread operator (...) to convert an array of values into an array of references. Here's an example:

$query = "INSERT INTO test (id,row1,row2,row3) VALUES (?,?,?,?)";
$params = array(1,"2","3","4");
$param_type = "isss";
$sql_stmt = mysqli_prepare ($mysqli, $query);
call_user_func_array([$sql_stmt, 'bind_param'], [$param_type, ...$params]);
mysqli_stmt_execute($sql_stmt);

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