This driver supports connections using the standardized PHP Data Objects connection. The pdo driver itself cannot be used, it must be used with one of the supported drivers:

To establish a connection, the DSN style of connection must be used, the first argument of the DSN string being the database type, e.g. to connect to a MySQL database:

include_once 'adodb/adodb.inc.php';
$db = ADOnewConnection('pdo');
 
$user     = 'pdo-user';
$password = 'pdo-pass';
$dsnString= 'host=localhost;dbname=employees;charset=utf8mb4';
$db->connect('mysql:' . $dsnString,$user,$password);

Note that in the above example, the database type is separated from the rest of the DSN string by a : (colon). The rest of the DSN arguments are separated by a ; (semi-colon).

Using ADOdb effectively eliminates the need to use the PHP PDO driver as it hides the PHP level command:

• It provides true database abstraction, for example, the ADOdb method selectLimit() provides a true abstraction of the row limiting and offset of all databases. With PDO, you still need to provide the database specific syntax.
• In all cases, using native drivers (listed below) provide better functionality, as well as performance, than the equivalent PDO driver. This is true at both the ADOdb and PHP level

As of ADOdb 5.21, the PDO::setAttribute() method can be emulated using setConnectionParameter().

The current status of this driver is unknown. Consider using the mssqlnative driver instead.

• Some Meta functions are unavailable

include 'adodb-dir/adodb.inc.php';
$db   = ADOnewConnection('pdo');
 
$dsn  = 'mysql:hostname=127.0.0.1;database=employees;'
$user = 'user';
$password = 'password'
 
$db->connect($dsn,$user,$password);

• There is no support for the complex binding features available in the Native Driver
• Some MetaFunctions are unavailable

If you are using the instantclient, and there is no tsnames.ora defined, you can define a connection like this

//Connecting to Oracle Express on 192.168.86.86
$tns = " 
(DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS_LIST =
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = 192.168.86.86)(PORT = 1521))
    )
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVICE_NAME = XEPDB1)
    )
  )
";
$dsnString="oci:dbname=$tns";
$db->connect($dsnString,$userName,$password);

Some features are not supported

$db = newAdoConnection('pdo');
 
$dsn  = 'pgsql:host=192.168.0.212;dbname=dvdrental';
$user = 'someuser';
$pass = 'somepass';
 
$db->connect($dsn,$user,$pass);

include 'adodb-dir/adodb.inc.php';
$db = ADOnewConnection('pdo');
 
$dsn  = 'sqlite:/home/sqlite/adodb-sqlite.db';
$user = 'root';
 
$db->connect($dsn,$user);

• This driver requires the installation of the Microsoft native client library, as well as the Microsoft SQL Server PDO drivers for PHP
• Dates are always returned as strings
• Most Meta functions are unsupported
• setConnectionParameter() is not supported
• This driver can also be used on Linux platforms, beginning with PHP Version 7. The program relies on the Microsoft drivers for Linux. For more information, see the mssqlnative driver
• You cannot change the character set in the driver. This is a limitation of the PDO driver, not ADOdb
• No support for parameter binding

include 'adodb-dir/adodb.inc.php';
$db = ADOnewConnection('pdo');
 
$user = 'user';
$pass = 'password';
$dsn  ='sqlsrv:server=SERVER\SQLEXPRESS;database=NORTHWND;';
 
$db->connect($dsn,$user,$password);

Unlike other pdo drivers, pdo_firebird is the preferred driver for this database. This is due to specific issues with this driver reported here.

include 'adodb-dir/adodb.inc.php';
$db = ADOnewConnection('pdo');
 
$dsn  = 'firebird:dbname=employee.fdb;hostname=localhost';
$user = 'SYSDBA';
$pass = 'master-key';
 
$db->connect($dsn,$user,$pass);