Connect to MS SQL Server with PHP 5.3+

The main difference with the older mssql functions of PHP is that SQLSRV API requires an Array() with connection information, instead of strings.

Starting with PHP version 5.3.2, PHP dropped support for the MSSQL Functions. You now have to rely on a new driver created by Microsoft: SQLSRV. In the article mentioned below you'll learn how to install the SQLSRV driver and PHP extension, this article showcases how you connect to an SQL Server database with PHP.

Learn how to install the SQLSRV driver and PHP extension on Windows Server.

PHP connect to SQL Server

An example you can use to connect from PHP to SQL Server with sqlsrv_connect() is:

<?php
/*
 * Follow me on Twitter: @Jan_Reilink
 * Donate: https://www.paypal.me/jreilink
 */

function connectMssql($hostname, $username, $dbname, $passwd) {
  $connectionInfo = array("UID" => $username, "PWD" => $passwd, "Database" => $dbname);
  $link = sqlsrv_connect($hostname, $connectionInfo);
  if ($link) {
    return TRUE;
  } else {
    return FALSE;
  }
}
 
if(connectMssql("sql.domain.tld", "user", "deebaase", "passw0rd")) {
  echo "We're connected!";
  // do stuff here, then close the SQL Server connection
  sqlsrv_close($link);
}
?>

Support for multiple PHP versions

Suppose you want to support both older and newer versions of PHP. You can use phpversion() to check the version you're currently using. Then use the SQL Server sqlsrv/mssql_connect() function for that specific version, like:

<?php
/*
 * Follow me on Twitter: @Jan_Reilink
 * Donate: https://www.paypal.me/jreilink
 *
 * Pseudo code for illustration only
 */

function connectMssql($hostname, $username, $dbname, $passwd) {
  if(strnatcmp(phpversion(),"5.3.2") >= 0) {
    /*
     * PHP versie 5.3.2 or higher needs sqlsrv-driver:
     * http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc296161%28SQL.90%29.aspx
     */

    $connectionInfo = array("UID" => $username, "PWD" => $passwd, "Database"=> $dbname);
    $link = sqlsrv_connect($hostname, $connectionInfo);
    if ($link) {
      return TRUE;
      sqlsrv_close($link);
      exit;
    }
  }

  else {
    $link = mssql_connect($hostname, $username, $passwd);
    if ((!$link) || (!mssql_select_db($dbname, $link))) {
      return FALSE;
    }
    else { return TRUE; }
    if ($link) { mssql_close($link); }
  }
}

// execute the function
connectMssql("sql.domain.tld", "user", "deebaase", "passw0rd");
?>

SQLSRV Driver API Reference

You can find more information on the SQLSRV API on Microsofts MSDN website: SQLSRV Driver API Reference (Microsoft Drivers for PHP for SQL Server)

List all table names in an SQL Server database - sqlsrv_query() show tables example

You can use this PHP example, using sqlsrv_query(), to perform a SHOW TABLES query:

<?php
/*
 * Follow me on Twitter: @Jan_Reilink
 * Donate: https://www.paypal.me/jreilink
 *
 */

$connectionInfo = array("UID" => "db-user", "PWD" => "passw0rd", "Database" => "deebaase");
$link = sqlsrv_connect("sql.domain.tld", $connectionInfo);
$sql = "SELECT table_name FROM information_schema.tables";

$stmt = sqlsrv_query( $link, $sql);
while( $row = sqlsrv_fetch_array( $stmt, SQLSRV_FETCH_ASSOC) ) {
  echo $row['table_name']."<br />";
}

if( $stmt === false ) {
  die( print_r( sqlsrv_errors(), true));
}
?>

sqlsrv_query - Prepares and executes a query.

Conclusion connecting PHP 5.3+ to Microsoft SQL Server

In this article you learned you no longer can use mssql_connect() in PHP 5.3 and up. You have to use a newer driver and API called SQLSRV with, for example, sqlsrv_connect() function. The main difference with the older mssql functions of PHP is that SQLSRV requires an array with connection information instead of strings.