Understanding Dynamic Binding in bind_param() for MySQLi

In this question, we aim to explore a technique for using variable binding in MySQLi's bind_param() method, allowing us to specify a variable number of input variables. The goal is to update only non-empty columns in a database table.

Traditionally, we bind a fixed number of variables in bind_param() as "ss...", but in this case, we need to handle dynamic binding based on the availability of values in the $_POST array. The first step is to compile the parameter names and their corresponding values.

Next, we construct a dynamic query string by iterating through the parameter names and appending non-empty values to it. We then prepare the statement using the generated query string.

To dynamically bind the variables, we use call_user_func_array() to invoke bind_param() with a variable number of arguments. This allows us to pass an array of variable names (i.e., 'ss...') and their corresponding values as individual elements.

By following this approach, we can effectively update only the columns with non-empty values, avoiding unnecessary database updates and ensuring data integrity.