The deciding factor for me, is whether I call my query columns using *.
Using bind_result() would be better for this:
// Use bind_result() with fetch()
$query1 = 'SELECT id, first_name, last_name, username FROM table WHERE id = ?';
Using get_result() would be better for this:
// Use get_result() with fetch_assoc()
$query2 = 'SELECT * FROM table WHERE id = ?';
Example 1 for $query1 using bind_result()
$query1 = 'SELECT id, first_name, last_name, username FROM table WHERE id = ?';
$id = 5;
if($stmt = $mysqli->prepare($query)){
/*
Binds variables to prepared statement
i corresponding variable has type integer
d corresponding variable has type double
s corresponding variable has type string
b corresponding variable is a blob and will be sent in packets
*/
$stmt->bind_param('i',$id);
/* execute query */
$stmt->execute();
/* Store the result (to get properties) */
$stmt->store_result();
/* Get the number of rows */
$num_of_rows = $stmt->num_rows;
/* Bind the result to variables */
$stmt->bind_result($id, $first_name, $last_name, $username);
while ($stmt->fetch()) {
echo 'ID: '.$id.'<br>';
echo 'First Name: '.$first_name.'<br>';
echo 'Last Name: '.$last_name.'<br>';
echo 'Username: '.$username.'<br><br>';
}
/* free results */
$stmt->free_result();
/* close statement */
$stmt->close();
}
/* close connection */
$mysqli->close();
Example 2 for $query2 using get_result()
$query2 = 'SELECT * FROM table WHERE id = ?';
$id = 5;
if($stmt = $mysqli->prepare($query)){
/*
Binds variables to prepared statement
i corresponding variable has type integer
d corresponding variable has type double
s corresponding variable has type string
b corresponding variable is a blob and will be sent in packets
*/
$stmt->bind_param('i',$id);
/* execute query */
$stmt->execute();
/* Get the result */
$result = $stmt->get_result();
/* Get the number of rows */
$num_of_rows = $result->num_rows;
while ($row = $result->fetch_assoc()) {
echo 'ID: '.$row['id'].'<br>';
echo 'First Name: '.$row['first_name'].'<br>';
echo 'Last Name: '.$row['last_name'].'<br>';
echo 'Username: '.$row['username'].'<br><br>';
}
/* free results */
$stmt->free_result();
/* close statement */
$stmt->close();
}
/* close connection */
$mysqli->close();
As you can see you can't use bind_result with *. However, get_result works for both, but bind_result is simpler and takes out some of the mess with $row['name'].
bind_result()
Pros:
- Simpler
- No need to mess with
$row['name']
- Uses
fetch()
Cons:
- Doesn't work with SQL query that use
*
get_result()
Pros:
- Works with all SQL statements
- Uses
fetch_assoc()
Cons:
- Must mess around with array variables
$row[]
- Not as neat
- requires MySQL native driver (mysqlnd)
