Global Variable - database connection?

Question

I am trying to connect to a database (MySQLi) just once, but am having problems doing so.

How do I make a connection global for the entire script? There are multiple

Answer 1

Personally, I use a singleton class. Something like this:

<?php

class Database {

    private static $db;
    private $connection;

    private function __construct() {
        $this->connection = new MySQLi(/* credentials */);
    }

    function __destruct() {
        $this->connection->close();
    }

    public static function getConnection() {
        if (self::$db == null) {
            self::$db = new Database();
        }
        return self::$db->connection;
    }
}

?>

Then just use $db = Database::getConnection(); wherever I need it.