gistfile1.php

private $_link = null;

/**
 * Private function connect()
 * This function is the basic code for the call to mySQLi. Returns a link to server.
 * @return object
 */
private function connect()
{
    if ( $this->_link === null )
    {
        $this->_link = new mysqli( $GLOBALS['db_host'], $GLOBALS['db_user'], $GLOBALS['db_pass'], $GLOBALS['db_db'] ) or die( mysqli_error( $link ) );
        $this->_link->set_charset( 'utf8' );
    }
    
    return $this->_link;
}