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mysqli_stmt::get_result() is supported in PHP 8; PHP 8 did not remove it. The method is available only when the active MySQLi extension uses mysqlnd, so this error usually calls for checking the PHP runtime and driver handling the failing web request. If mysqlnd is unavailable, ask your host about enabling it, fetch bound result columns with MySQLi instead, or migrate the query to PDO.
Why does get_result() work in PHP 7.4 but not PHP 8?
The PHP manual lists mysqli_stmt::get_result() for PHP 7 and PHP 8, with the note: “Available only with mysqlnd.” That makes the MySQLi driver configuration—not the PHP major-version change by itself—the key distinction to investigate. See the PHP manual for mysqli_stmt::get_result().
In the SitePoint thread, the poster said a prepared query worked on PHP 7.4 but stopped at $stmt->get_result() after switching to PHP 8 in cPanel. The accepted response attributed the difference to the PHP 8 build selected there. The thread does not include configuration output, so that explanation is plausible but not independently verified for that account. A syntax checker passing does not establish that the web runtime provides this driver-dependent method. Read the SitePoint discussion.
Check the runtime serving the failing request
Verify the PHP version, loaded MySQLi extension, and MySQLi client driver in the same web environment that runs the failing code. Command-line PHP, a different cPanel PHP selector, or a diagnostic page served by another configuration may report a different setup. If the active MySQLi runtime lacks mysqlnd support, ask your hosting provider whether it can enable or provide a PHP 8 runtime with mysqlnd support for MySQLi.
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If you use a diagnostic page to inspect the web runtime, protect it from public access and remove it when finished. The SitePoint thread does not identify the host or provide the account’s PHP configuration, so it cannot establish which build was active.
Choose a fix that fits your setup
| Option | What changes | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Enable mysqlnd support | Ask the host to configure or provide a PHP 8 MySQLi runtime with mysqlnd support. | May avoid changing the query code, but depends on the host’s available configurations. |
| Fetch bound columns with MySQLi | Use prepared-statement result metadata and bind result columns, then fetch with mysqli_stmt_fetch(). |
Retains MySQLi but changes how the application reads rows; it can be more verbose than using a mysqli_result object. See mysqli_stmt::fetch() and mysqli_stmt::result_metadata(). |
| Migrate the query to PDO | Prepare and execute the query through PDO, then fetch the row using PDO’s API. | This is an API migration, not a one-line replacement. Review connection setup, error handling, fetch mode, and downstream result use. See PDO prepared statements. |
Understand what get_result() returns
The method is meant for statements that produce a result set. Successful SELECT, SHOW, DESCRIBE, and EXPLAIN operations return a mysqli_result; for other successful queries, get_result() returns false. Do not combine it with mysqli_stmt_store_result(): both retrieve the full result set. These return-value and usage rules are separate from an undefined-method fatal error. If the method exists but the call returns false, investigate the query and result handling rather than treating it as the same driver-availability problem. Details are in the PHP manual.
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