Php SQL book learning error

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PHP

MySQL

Hello, Im starting PHP programming, learning from the book but the code dont work.
XAMPP 8.0.x
Windows 11
Chrome

Dont know if its outdated or what to do.
Posted more of code for resolution.
Here it is:

@$db = new mysqli('localhost', 'bookorama', 'bookorama123', 'books');
if (mysqli_connect_errorno()) {
echo 'typing an error msg';
exit;
}

$query = "SELECT ...
WHERE $searchtype LIKE ?"
$stmt = $db->prepare($query);
$searchterm = '%'.$searchterm.'%';
$stmt->bindparam('s',$searchterm);
$stmt->execute();
$stmt->store_result();

$stmt->bind_result($a,$b,$c,$d);

The problem is:

Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to a member function bind_param() on bool in D:\xampp\htdocs\results.php:40 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in D:\xampp\htdocs\results.php on line 40

here is line 40:

$stmt->bind_param('s',$searchterm);

Thanks for feedback about the code.
JurajB

What I have tried:

I dont know if the problem is with object oriented programming or what.