Why is it recommended to specify all columns in the SELECT statement rather than using SELECT * in PHP?

Specifying all columns in the SELECT statement is recommended over using SELECT * in PHP because it provides better control over the data being retrieved and can improve query performance. When using SELECT *, all columns from the table are retrieved, which can lead to unnecessary data being fetched and potentially impact the performance of your application. By explicitly listing the columns you need, you can ensure that only the necessary data is retrieved, resulting in a more efficient query. 

<?php
// Specify all columns in the SELECT statement
$sql = "SELECT column1, column2, column3 FROM table_name";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $sql);

// Fetch and display the data
while($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
    echo $row['column1'] . " - " . $row['column2'] . " - " . $row['column3'] . "<br>";
}
?>

Keywords

SELECT statement columns PHP best practice performance

Related Questions