What role does the WHERE clause play in updating multiple data records in a database with PHP?

The WHERE clause in an SQL UPDATE statement is crucial for specifying which records in the database should be updated. When updating multiple data records in a database with PHP, the WHERE clause helps to target specific rows based on certain conditions, ensuring that only the intended records are modified.

<?php
// Connect 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 multiple records in the database
$sql = "UPDATE myTable SET column1 = 'new value' WHERE condition = 'specific condition'";

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

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