Should You Explicitly Close MySQL Connections for Optimal Performance?

Is it Critical to Close MySQL Connections?

When it comes to database interactions, one common question arises: is it essential to close MySQL connections? Understanding the implications can significantly impact efficiency and performance.

Documentation Stance

According to the MySQL documentation, the connection to the server automatically closes upon script execution, unless explicitly closed using mysql_close(). This means that closing connections is not strictly necessary for certain scenarios.

Performance Considerations

However, closing connections can have performance benefits. If your script processes data heavily after fetching results, and especially if it involves retrieving a large result set, it's recommended to close the connection explicitly. This helps prevent the MySQL server from reaching its connection limit during high traffic.

FastCGI Influence

FastCGI, a process management technique, may impact connection behavior. Some sources claim that PHP builds supporting FastCGI create persistent connections, which contradicts the documentation's suggestion that connections are closed when the process ends. Nevertheless, it's best practice to use mysql_close() or, if available, PDO, to ensure proper resource management and avoid potential issues.

The above is the detailed content of Should You Explicitly Close MySQL Connections for Optimal Performance?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!