'mysqli', short for "MySQL Improved," is a PHP extension designed to work with MySQL databases. It provides an efficient way to interact with MySQL databases using PHP, offering both procedural and object-oriented programming interfaces. Compared to the older 'mysql' extension, 'mysqli' includes enhanced features like prepared statements, multiple statements, and support for transactions, making it more secure and suitable for dealing with complex data operations. 'mysqli' is widely used in web development for robust database management in PHP-based applications.
