What are the differences between using MySQLi and mysql_* functions in PHP, and why is it important to use the correct one?

Using MySQLi functions in PHP is preferred over the deprecated mysql_* functions because MySQLi offers better security, prepared statements to prevent SQL injection attacks, and support for transactions. It is important to use MySQLi functions to ensure your code is secure and future-proof.

// Using MySQLi functions to connect to a database
$servername = "localhost";
$username = "username";
$password = "password";
$dbname = "myDB";

// Create connection
$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

// Check connection
if ($conn->connect_error) {
    die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error);
}
echo "Connected successfully";