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

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:

1. prepared statement, one row at a time

2. 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!