private function __construct() { try { self::$database = new PDO('mysql:host=' . HOST . ';dbname=' . DATABASE . ';charset=utf8', USER, PASSWORD); self::$database->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_PERSISTENT, TRUE); self::$database->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION); self::$database->setAttribute(PDO::MYSQL_ATTR_INIT_COMMAND, 'SET NAMES utf8'); } catch (PDOException $e) { return 'Connection Error: ' . $e->getMessage(); } }