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Connecting to a MySQL database using PHP can be accomplished effectively using either the MySQLi (MySQL Improved) extension or PDO (PHP Data Objects). Both options offer modern, secure, and flexible methods for database interaction.

The MySQLi extension provides an enhanced interface for connecting to MySQL databases, supporting both procedural and object-oriented approaches. It is specifically designed for MySQL database management and includes features such as prepared statements to prevent SQL injection.

On the other hand, PDO offers a database abstraction layer, allowing developers to interact with various database systems (not just MySQL) using a consistent interface. This adds a level of portability for applications that may need to switch database engines in the future.

The other options do not adequately represent the current standards for connecting to a MySQL database in PHP. The mysql_connect() function, while once widely used, has been deprecated since PHP 5.5.0 and removed in PHP 7.0.0, making it unsuitable for any contemporary application. The choices involving database_connect() and db_connect() are not standard PHP functions or methods for establishing database connections, making them invalid.

Therefore, utilizing either mysqli_connect() or PDO is the accepted and encouraged approach for connecting to a MySQL database,