What is the significance of using a WHERE clause in SQL queries when updating records in PHP?

Using a WHERE clause in SQL queries when updating records in PHP is significant because it allows you to specify which records to update based on certain conditions. Without a WHERE clause, all records in the table would be affected by the update, which may not be the desired outcome. By using a WHERE clause, you can target specific records that meet certain criteria, ensuring that only those records are updated. 

<?php
// Establish a connection to the database
$servername = "localhost";
$username = "username";
$password = "password";
$dbname = "myDB";

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

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

// Update records in the 'users' table where the 'status' column is 'active'
$sql = "UPDATE users SET status = 'inactive' WHERE status = 'active'";

if ($conn->query($sql) === TRUE) {
    echo "Records updated successfully";
} else {
    echo "Error updating records: " . $conn->error;
}

// Close the database connection
$conn->close();
?>

Keywords

PHP SQL queries WHERE clause updating records significance

Related Questions