How to Set Character Set and Encoding in PDO Database Connections?

PDO Configuration for Character Set and Encoding

In PDO, setting the character set and encoding for the database connection is crucial for proper data handling. Previously, in the deprecated mysql_* extension, these settings were made using mysql_set_charset() and mysql_query("SET NAMES 'UTF8'"). With PDO, the settings are specified in the connection string or through subsequent queries.

Charset Option in Connection String

The preferred method for configuring the charset in PDO is to specify it directly in the connection string. This is done by appending the charset option, followed by the desired character set and encoding, to the connection string. For example:

$dsn = "mysql:host=$host;dbname=$db;charset=utf8mb4";

Prior to PHP 5.3.6

In earlier versions of PHP (prior to 5.3.6), the charset option was ignored in the connection string. In these cases, the charset and encoding must be set manually after creating the PDO object:

$dbh = new PDO("mysql:host=$host;dbname=$db", $user, $password);
$dbh->exec("set names utf8mb4");

Advantages of Using PDO

Using PDO for character set and encoding configuration offers several advantages:

• It is consistent with the PDO API and simplifies the connection process.
• It avoids the need for additional queries or special configuration for older PHP versions.
• It ensures proper character handling and data integrity in your application.

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