I'm very new to PHP and mysql.  I'm looking at installing a php app for myself and several friends, and have some questions.

What is the difference between mysql and mysqli?  Should I use myisam tables or innodb?

Once I make a decision, how hard is it to switch if I need to?  If I get used to mysql and myisam for example, would using mysqli and/or innodb be a matter of changing a config setting, or would there be more I would need to understand?  

Would it make any difference if the host is a Windows or Unix host, assuming the host already has PHP and mysql installed?

Thank you

mysqli is the object-oriented version of mysql library
functions.

Mysqli is nothing but an improved version Mysql which
supports oops.


_________________
HaRoOn
haroon373@gmail.com
+923216638785
http://www.phpmetablog.com

You can use both types of tables innodb or myisam.
Myisam tables ar quicker but innodb tables are better for friquet access.
You can siply change the type of the table when you create it with "type=typeofthetable;"
InnoDB tables ar default type of the tables in MySQL 4 and newer (5).

create table sometableinodb
(
    item_id int unsigned not null auto_increment primary key,
    item_name varchar(35) not null,
    item_yesno tinyint unsigned not null default '0'
) type=InnoDB;


create table sometableimyisam
(
    item_id int unsigned not null auto_increment primary key,
    item_name varchar(35) not null,
    item_yesno tinyint unsigned not null default '0'
) type=myisam;

No matter if the host is Windows or Linux/Unix

Have a nice PHP/MySQL trip.


_________________
"The only problem to drink water from cactus is ... to find a tap."