What are the best practices for exporting and importing data when switching databases in PHP?

When switching databases in PHP, it is important to export data from the current database and import it into the new database. One way to do this is by using SQL dump files to export data from the old database and then import it into the new database. This ensures that all data is transferred accurately and efficiently.

// Export data from old database
$old_db_host = 'old_host';
$old_db_user = 'old_user';
$old_db_pass = 'old_password';
$old_db_name = 'old_database';

$export_command = "mysqldump -h $old_db_host -u $old_db_user -p$old_db_pass $old_db_name > old_db_dump.sql";
exec($export_command);

// Import data into new database
$new_db_host = 'new_host';
$new_db_user = 'new_user';
$new_db_pass = 'new_password';
$new_db_name = 'new_database';

$import_command = "mysql -h $new_db_host -u $new_db_user -p$new_db_pass $new_db_name < old_db_dump.sql";
exec($import_command);