preventing too many database connections

Question

I have an include file for my database connections that has the following code:

$my_db_link = mysql_connect('my_host', 'my_username', 'my_password');
if (!$my_db_link) {
    die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}

$my_db_name = 'my_database';
mysql_select_db($my_db_name);

Will it make a difference if I use include_once() rather than include(), or require_once() rather than require()? We had a recent "too many connections" error ("PHP Warning: mysql_connect() [function.mysql-connect]: Too many connections ") and I'm wondering if using include() created more connections than necessary.

include_once('my_db_connect.php');

instead of

include('my_db_connect.php');

You have two choices: never call that `include` more than once per page, or call `include_once` as many times you please. — Frank Farmer, Jun 03 '11 at 17:47
you could maybe look into the singleton pattern and develop a database class for yourself. — Dalton Conley, Jun 03 '11 at 18:02
@Dalton that's a bad idea. See http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4595964/who-needs-singletons/4596323#4596323 — Gordon, Jun 03 '11 at 18:25
Here's the only thing that worked in our case: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/53226015/error-too-many-connections-on-codeigniter-website — Pedro Araujo Jorge, Nov 09 '18 at 17:25

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 03 '11 at 17:50

The require() function is identical to include(), except that it handles errors differently. If an error occurs, the include() function generates a warning, but the script will continue execution. The require() generates a fatal error, and the script will stop.

The manual for require_once is here

The require_once() statement is identical to require() except PHP will check if the file has already been included, and if so, not include (require) it again.

Using persistent connections can require a bit of tuning of your Apache and MySQL configurations to ensure that you do not exceed the number of connections allowed by MySQL.

So its better to use mysql_pconnect() to prevent over loading of connections. Check the manual here

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 03 '11 at 18:07

Will it make a difference if I use include_once() rather than include(), or require_once() rather than require()?

In this circumstance, no. However, in higher-performance applications, be careful about using include_once/require_once on some systems. PHP uses a stat() call every time the *_once() function is used in your code to determine if it has included that file already or not. If you are careful with your design, you'll avoid double-includes entirely; most higher-level PHP developers avoid it by using object-oriented programming mixed with just-in-time autoloading of class files.

edit: http://www.techyouruniverse.com/software/php-performance-tip-require-versus-require_once

Something to chew on for the bored. :)

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 03 '11 at 17:48

0

If you are using mod_php, consider using mysql_pconnect() for connection pooling. More on connection persistence here:

http://www.php.net/manual/en/features.persistent-connections.php

answered Jun 03 '11 at 17:48

AJ.

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 03 '11 at 17:49

Using include_once instead of include will only avoid another include of the same file within the same runtime. Besides that, mysql_connect will already use already an existing connection if there is one with the same credentials.

But you could try mysql_pconnect for persistent connections:

mysql_pconnect() acts very much like mysql_connect() with two major differences.

First, when connecting, the function would first try to find a (persistent) link that's already open with the same host, username and password. If one is found, an identifier for it will be returned instead of opening a new connection.

Second, the connection to the SQL server will not be closed when the execution of the script ends. Instead, the link will remain open for future use (mysql_close() will not close links established by mysql_pconnect()).

preventing too many database connections

4 Answers4