What are the potential pitfalls of using multiple database connections in PHP?

Potential pitfalls of using multiple database connections in PHP include increased complexity, potential for resource contention, and difficulty in managing transactions across multiple connections. To mitigate these issues, consider using a database connection pooling solution or consolidating connections where possible.

// Consolidating database connections into a single instance
$host = 'localhost';
$user = 'username';
$pass = 'password';
$dbname = 'database';

$connection = new mysqli($host, $user, $pass, $dbname);

if ($connection->connect_error) {
    die("Connection failed: " . $connection->connect_error);
}