Is it possible to combine mysqli prepared statement with multiple inserts? - php

Question

I am well-versed in the old php mysql extension.
I am working on my first script that uses the mysqli extension.
I am going to be inserting a large number of rows into a table that are being generated dynamically.
Is it possible to use a prepared statement to insert multiple rows into a table without previously knowing the number of new rows that will be inserted each time?
$stmt = $mysqli->prepare("INSERT INTO `activity` (`id`, `name`, `type`) VALUES ?, ?, ?;");
If that isn't possible, which would be more efficient:
prepared statement, one row at a time
non-prepared statement, ~50 rows at a time
// prepared statement
$stmt = $mysqli->prepare("INSERT INTO `activity` (`id`, `name`, `type`) VALUES (?, ?, ?)");
for($i=0;$i<$limit;$i++)
{
$stmt->bind_param('iss', $id[$i], $name[$i], $type[$i]);
$stmt->execute();
}
// non-prepared statement
$query = "INSERT INTO `activity` (`id`, `name`, `type`) VALUES ";
for($i=0;$i<$limit;$i++)
{
$query .= "\n(".$mysqli->real_escape_string($id[$i]), $mysqli->real_escape_string($name[$i]), $mysqli->real_escape_string($type[$i])."),";
}
$query = substr($query, 0, -1).';';
PHP v.5.3.8
MySQL v. 5.1.60

Answer 1

$stmt = $mysqli->stmt_init();
if($stmt->prepare("INSERT INTO `activity` (`id`, `name`, `type`) VALUES (?, ?, ?)"))
{
$stmt->bind_param('iss', $_id, $_name, $_type);
for($i=0;$i<$limit;$i++)
{
$_id = $id[$i];
$_name = $name[$i];
$_type = $type[$i];
$stmt->execute();
}
}
should do it for you!