Why Close A DB Connection?

[augathra]

Hi, Why should I close a DB connection?

I have asked this question somewhat before, but never received a solid answer, like "it's good practice", but why?



I appreciate any input.

[andrin]

Many older programming languages has no way of automatically detect when you no longer referr to a resource. The only way to freeing this resource (memory) was to close the connection. This is usaully done automagicly these days so you might say it´s legacy to do so but that´s not true either. As soon you get into persistent database connections you will now what I mean. If you learn to do what´s "good practice" from the beginning you don´t have to unlearn it later and it will save you from pulling your hair completely. As we say in Sweden:

It´s not easy to teach an old dog to sit.