PHP connecting to MySQL as Apache user instead of specified user

Question

I'm trying to connect to a MYSQL database using PHP. I have this to connect to the database:

<?php
$servername = "localhost";
$username = "orbital";
$password = "XXXXXXXX";
$dbname = "helios";

function establishConnection() {
    // Create connection
    $conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

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

    return $conn;
}?>

However, whenever I call establishConnection() I get:

Connection failed: Access denied for user 'webmaster'@'localhost' (using password: NO)

webmaster is the user on my machine which runs Apache. Why is it using the webmaster user with no password instead of the specified 'orbital' user?

Since the variables are out of scope, they're considered non values and the mysqli constructor will use the values from php.ini for default settings — Zarathuztra, Feb 17 '15 at 00:34

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 17 '15 at 00:34

2

You need to pass the DB variables to the function. Do not use the global keyword; pass them as parameters.

<?php
$servername = "localhost";
$username = "orbital";
$password = "XXXXXXXX";
$dbname = "helios";

function establishConnection($servername, $username, $password, $dbname) {
    // Create connection
    $conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

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

    return $conn;
}?>

answered Feb 17 '15 at 00:34

Dave

3,658
1
16
9

"Do not use the global keyword; pass them as parameters." Explain why at least. – developerwjk Feb 17 '15 at 00:38
I Agree with @developerwjk on that comment, Dave has just copied what I said in a comment and not explained it... – Darren Feb 17 '15 at 00:50

developerwjk · Answer 2 · 2015-02-17T00:43:31.353

0

Those variables are out of the function's scope. You should make those variables parameters to the function:

function establishConnection($servername, $username, $password, $dbname) {
    // Create connection
    $conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

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

    return $conn;
}
$myCon = establishConnection($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

OR:

You could declare them global variables in the function (as below), although many people are against it (see the comments):

<?php
$servername = "localhost";
$username = "orbital";
$password = "XXXXXXXX";
$dbname = "helios";

function establishConnection() {
    // Create connection
    //without the following line, this function has no access to any
    // of these variables because they are outside the function scope
    global $servername, $username, $password, $dbname;
    $conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

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

    return $conn;
}?>

edited Feb 17 '15 at 00:43

answered Feb 17 '15 at 00:24

developerwjk

8,619
2
17
33

2

I'd steer clear of `global`'ing the variables to add them to the function scope. Rather passing them as arguements - `function establishConnect($servername, $username, $password, $dbname) { }`. Read more about [Why global state is the devil](http://tomnomnom.com/posts/why-global-state-is-the-devil-and-how-to-avoid-using-it). – Darren Feb 17 '15 at 00:31
That's a likely cause, as the variables will essentially be null values. – Zarathuztra Feb 17 '15 at 00:31
2

I have to agree with @Darren, `global` is pretty much never the way to go. Though to be clear, it would likely solve the issue, its just that its a *bad solve*. – prodigitalson Feb 17 '15 at 00:31
I also agree with ditching global – Zarathuztra Feb 17 '15 at 00:32
@Darren, At your link there (http://tomnomnom.com/posts/why-global-state-is-the-devil-and-how-to-avoid-using-it) none of those examples even uses the `global` keyword. They all use `$GLOBALS` or are examples of using class members in a global fashion inside a class, and thus have NOTHING to do with this at all. – developerwjk Feb 17 '15 at 00:42
@Zarathuztra, Updated the answer to show both ways. – developerwjk Feb 17 '15 at 00:43
1

And its doubtful a beginner having an issue with variable scope is using dependency injection or has any plans to any time soon. – developerwjk Feb 17 '15 at 00:50
I'm up-voting as this is a double-edged sword. If used correctly, `global` will do as intended, I just don't want the OP to go around `global`'ing everything. ([And the answers here explain why](http://stackoverflow.com/q/1557787/2518525)) – Darren Feb 17 '15 at 00:52

PHP connecting to MySQL as Apache user instead of specified user

2 Answers2