What are the recommended methods for optimizing PHP scripts to prevent excessive database connections and potential hosting issues?

To optimize PHP scripts and prevent excessive database connections, it is recommended to utilize connection pooling, reuse connections, and close connections when they are no longer needed. This can help reduce the strain on the database server and prevent potential hosting issues.

// Example of reusing a database connection in PHP
$servername = "localhost";
$username = "username";
$password = "password";
$dbname = "database";

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

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

// Use the connection for database operations

// Close the connection when done
$conn->close();