diff --git a/UPGRADE.md b/UPGRADE.md
index 6c832deb1e7..c945adf5d0d 100644
--- a/UPGRADE.md
+++ b/UPGRADE.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # Upgrade to 3.0
 
+## BC BREAK changes the `Driver::connect()` signature
+
+The method no longer accepts the `$username`, `$password` and `$driverOptions` arguments. The corresponding values are expected to be passed as the "user", "password" and "driver_options" keys of the `$params` argument respectively.
+
 ## Removed `MasterSlaveConnection`
 
 This class was deprecated in favor of `PrimaryReadReplicaConnection`
diff --git a/phpcs.xml.dist b/phpcs.xml.dist
index a9607273e9d..c7917559c5f 100644
--- a/phpcs.xml.dist
+++ b/phpcs.xml.dist
@@ -83,11 +83,12 @@
     <!-- https://github.com/squizlabs/PHP_CodeSniffer/issues/2837 -->
     <rule ref="Squiz.NamingConventions.ValidVariableName.NotCamelCaps">
         <!--
-            This file uses the return value db2_server_info(), which does not follow conventions
-            phpcs wrongly complains about it, and that has been reported here:
+            These files use the underlying driver APIs that don't comply with the coding standard
+            phpcs wrongly complains about them, and that has been reported here:
             https://github.com/squizlabs/PHP_CodeSniffer/issues/2950
         -->
         <exclude-pattern>src/Driver/IBMDB2/DB2Connection.php</exclude-pattern>
+        <exclude-pattern>src/Driver/Mysqli/MysqliConnection.php</exclude-pattern>
         <!-- See https://github.com/squizlabs/PHP_CodeSniffer/issues/2837 -->
         <exclude-pattern>src/SQLParserUtils.php</exclude-pattern>
         <exclude-pattern>src/Tools/Dumper.php</exclude-pattern>
diff --git a/src/Connection.php b/src/Connection.php
index 4f741bb3c3d..f07d9f49151 100644
--- a/src/Connection.php
+++ b/src/Connection.php
@@ -352,12 +352,8 @@ public function connect()
             return false;
         }
 
-        $driverOptions = $this->params['driverOptions'] ?? [];
-        $user          = $this->params['user'] ?? null;
-        $password      = $this->params['password'] ?? null;
-
         try {
-            $this->_conn = $this->_driver->connect($this->params, $user, $password, $driverOptions);
+            $this->_conn = $this->_driver->connect($this->params);
         } catch (DriverException $e) {
             throw DBALException::driverException($this->_driver, $e);
         }
diff --git a/src/Connections/PrimaryReadReplicaConnection.php b/src/Connections/PrimaryReadReplicaConnection.php
index 8e3c6ee136b..d1d9810d965 100644
--- a/src/Connections/PrimaryReadReplicaConnection.php
+++ b/src/Connections/PrimaryReadReplicaConnection.php
@@ -225,15 +225,10 @@ protected function connectTo($connectionName)
     {
         $params = $this->getParams();
 
-        $driverOptions = $params['driverOptions'] ?? [];
-
         $connectionParams = $this->chooseConnectionConfiguration($connectionName, $params);
 
-        $user     = $connectionParams['user'] ?? null;
-        $password = $connectionParams['password'] ?? null;
-
         try {
-            return $this->_driver->connect($connectionParams, $user, $password, $driverOptions);
+            return $this->_driver->connect($connectionParams);
         } catch (DriverException $e) {
             throw DBALException::driverException($this->_driver, $e);
         }
diff --git a/src/Driver.php b/src/Driver.php
index f0b300aee98..ec8fbfb7022 100644
--- a/src/Driver.php
+++ b/src/Driver.php
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 namespace Doctrine\DBAL;
 
+use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Connection as DriverConnection;
 use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\DriverException;
 use Doctrine\DBAL\Platforms\AbstractPlatform;
 use Doctrine\DBAL\Schema\AbstractSchemaManager;
@@ -15,18 +16,13 @@ interface Driver
     /**
      * Attempts to create a connection with the database.
      *
-     * The usage of NULL to indicate empty username or password is deprecated. Use an empty string instead.
+     * @param mixed[] $params All connection parameters.
      *
-     * @param mixed[]     $params        All connection parameters passed by the user.
-     * @param string|null $username      The username to use when connecting.
-     * @param string|null $password      The password to use when connecting.
-     * @param mixed[]     $driverOptions The driver options to use when connecting.
-     *
-     * @return \Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Connection The database connection.
+     * @return DriverConnection The database connection.
      *
      * @throws DriverException
      */
-    public function connect(array $params, $username = null, $password = null, array $driverOptions = []);
+    public function connect(array $params);
 
     /**
      * Gets the DatabasePlatform instance that provides all the metadata about
diff --git a/src/Driver/IBMDB2/DB2Connection.php b/src/Driver/IBMDB2/DB2Connection.php
index c6a120cc916..1e8bdf51a05 100644
--- a/src/Driver/IBMDB2/DB2Connection.php
+++ b/src/Driver/IBMDB2/DB2Connection.php
@@ -33,21 +33,21 @@ class DB2Connection implements ServerInfoAwareConnection
     private $conn = null;
 
     /**
-     * @param mixed[] $params
-     * @param string  $username
-     * @param string  $password
-     * @param mixed[] $driverOptions
+     * @param array<string,mixed> $driverOptions
      *
      * @throws DB2Exception
      */
-    public function __construct(array $params, $username, $password, $driverOptions = [])
-    {
-        $isPersistent = (isset($params['persistent']) && $params['persistent'] === true);
-
-        if ($isPersistent) {
-            $conn = db2_pconnect($params['dbname'], $username, $password, $driverOptions);
+    public function __construct(
+        string $database,
+        bool $persistent,
+        string $username,
+        string $password,
+        array $driverOptions = []
+    ) {
+        if ($persistent) {
+            $conn = db2_pconnect($database, $username, $password, $driverOptions);
         } else {
-            $conn = db2_connect($params['dbname'], $username, $password, $driverOptions);
+            $conn = db2_connect($database, $username, $password, $driverOptions);
         }
 
         if ($conn === false) {
diff --git a/src/Driver/IBMDB2/DB2Driver.php b/src/Driver/IBMDB2/DB2Driver.php
index 650d75ceac7..4712e144aef 100644
--- a/src/Driver/IBMDB2/DB2Driver.php
+++ b/src/Driver/IBMDB2/DB2Driver.php
@@ -12,17 +12,14 @@ class DB2Driver extends AbstractDB2Driver
     /**
      * {@inheritdoc}
      */
-    public function connect(array $params, $username = null, $password = null, array $driverOptions = [])
+    public function connect(array $params)
     {
-        $params['user']     = $username;
-        $params['password'] = $password;
-        $params['dbname']   = DataSourceName::fromConnectionParameters($params)->toString();
-
         return new DB2Connection(
-            $params,
-            (string) $username,
-            (string) $password,
-            $driverOptions
+            DataSourceName::fromConnectionParameters($params)->toString(),
+            isset($params['persistent']) && $params['persistent'] === true,
+            $params['user'] ?? '',
+            $params['password'] ?? '',
+            $params['driver_options'] ?? []
         );
     }
 
diff --git a/src/Driver/Mysqli/Driver.php b/src/Driver/Mysqli/Driver.php
index 4430482dfc9..c13a3f81709 100644
--- a/src/Driver/Mysqli/Driver.php
+++ b/src/Driver/Mysqli/Driver.php
@@ -3,15 +3,115 @@
 namespace Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli;
 
 use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\AbstractMySQLDriver;
+use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\Initializer\Charset;
+use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\Initializer\Options;
+use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\Initializer\Secure;
+
+use function count;
 
 class Driver extends AbstractMySQLDriver
 {
     /**
      * {@inheritdoc}
      */
-    public function connect(array $params, $username = null, $password = null, array $driverOptions = [])
+    public function connect(array $params)
+    {
+        if (! empty($params['persistent'])) {
+            if (! isset($params['host'])) {
+                throw HostRequired::forPersistentConnection();
+            }
+
+            $host = 'p:' . $params['host'];
+        } else {
+            $host = $params['host'] ?? null;
+        }
+
+        $flags = null;
+
+        $preInitializers = $postInitializers = [];
+
+        if (isset($params['driver_options'])) {
+            $driverOptions = $params['driver_options'];
+
+            if (isset($driverOptions[MysqliConnection::OPTION_FLAGS])) {
+                $flags = $driverOptions[MysqliConnection::OPTION_FLAGS];
+                unset($driverOptions[MysqliConnection::OPTION_FLAGS]);
+            }
+
+            $preInitializers = $this->withOptions($preInitializers, $driverOptions);
+        }
+
+        $preInitializers  = $this->withSecure($preInitializers, $params);
+        $postInitializers = $this->withCharset($postInitializers, $params);
+
+        return new MysqliConnection(
+            $host,
+            $params['user'] ?? null,
+            $params['password'] ?? null,
+            $params['dbname'] ?? null,
+            $params['port'] ?? null,
+            $params['unix_socket'] ?? null,
+            $flags,
+            $preInitializers,
+            $postInitializers
+        );
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param list<Initializer> $initializers
+     * @param array<int,mixed>  $options
+     *
+     * @return list<Initializer>
+     */
+    private function withOptions(array $initializers, array $options): array
     {
-        return new MysqliConnection($params, (string) $username, (string) $password, $driverOptions);
+        if (count($options) !== 0) {
+            $initializers[] = new Options($options);
+        }
+
+        return $initializers;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param list<Initializer>   $initializers
+     * @param array<string,mixed> $params
+     *
+     * @return list<Initializer>
+     */
+    private function withSecure(array $initializers, array $params): array
+    {
+        if (
+            isset($params['ssl_key']) ||
+            isset($params['ssl_cert']) ||
+            isset($params['ssl_ca']) ||
+            isset($params['ssl_capath']) ||
+            isset($params['ssl_cipher'])
+        ) {
+            $initializers[] = new Secure(
+                $params['ssl_key']    ?? null,
+                $params['ssl_cert']   ?? null,
+                $params['ssl_ca']     ?? null,
+                $params['ssl_capath'] ?? null,
+                $params['ssl_cipher'] ?? null
+            );
+        }
+
+        return $initializers;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param list<Initializer>   $initializers
+     * @param array<string,mixed> $params
+     *
+     * @return list<Initializer>
+     */
+    private function withCharset(array $initializers, array $params): array
+    {
+        if (isset($params['charset'])) {
+            $initializers[] = new Charset($params['charset']);
+        }
+
+        return $initializers;
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/Driver/Mysqli/Exception/InvalidCharset.php b/src/Driver/Mysqli/Exception/InvalidCharset.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e866f200523
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Driver/Mysqli/Exception/InvalidCharset.php
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\Exception;
+
+use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\MysqliException;
+use mysqli;
+
+use function sprintf;
+
+/**
+ * @internal
+ *
+ * @psalm-immutable
+ */
+final class InvalidCharset extends MysqliException
+{
+    public static function fromCharset(mysqli $connection, string $charset): self
+    {
+        return new self(
+            sprintf('Failed to set charset "%s": %s', $charset, $connection->error),
+            $connection->sqlstate,
+            $connection->errno
+        );
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Driver/Mysqli/Exception/InvalidOption.php b/src/Driver/Mysqli/Exception/InvalidOption.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..210ce09259c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Driver/Mysqli/Exception/InvalidOption.php
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\Exception;
+
+use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\MysqliException;
+
+use function sprintf;
+
+/**
+ * @internal
+ *
+ * @psalm-immutable
+ */
+final class InvalidOption extends MysqliException
+{
+    /**
+     * @param mixed $value
+     */
+    public static function fromOption(int $option, $value): self
+    {
+        return new self(
+            sprintf('Failed to set option %d with value "%s"', $option, $value)
+        );
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Driver/Mysqli/Initializer.php b/src/Driver/Mysqli/Initializer.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e2bd6b23d35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Driver/Mysqli/Initializer.php
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli;
+
+use mysqli;
+
+interface Initializer
+{
+    /**
+     * @throws MysqliException
+     */
+    public function initialize(mysqli $connection): void;
+}
diff --git a/src/Driver/Mysqli/Initializer/Charset.php b/src/Driver/Mysqli/Initializer/Charset.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..362c95fe610
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Driver/Mysqli/Initializer/Charset.php
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\Initializer;
+
+use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\Exception\InvalidCharset;
+use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\Initializer;
+use mysqli;
+
+final class Charset implements Initializer
+{
+    /** @var string */
+    private $charset;
+
+    public function __construct(string $charset)
+    {
+        $this->charset = $charset;
+    }
+
+    public function initialize(mysqli $connection): void
+    {
+        if ($connection->set_charset($this->charset)) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        throw InvalidCharset::fromCharset($connection, $this->charset);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Driver/Mysqli/Initializer/Options.php b/src/Driver/Mysqli/Initializer/Options.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bcf2fc2d117
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Driver/Mysqli/Initializer/Options.php
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\Initializer;
+
+use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\Exception\InvalidOption;
+use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\Initializer;
+use mysqli;
+
+use function mysqli_options;
+
+final class Options implements Initializer
+{
+    /** @var array<int,mixed> */
+    private $options;
+
+    /**
+     * @param array<int,mixed> $options
+     */
+    public function __construct(array $options)
+    {
+        $this->options = $options;
+    }
+
+    public function initialize(mysqli $connection): void
+    {
+        foreach ($this->options as $option => $value) {
+            if (! mysqli_options($connection, $option, $value)) {
+                throw InvalidOption::fromOption($option, $value);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Driver/Mysqli/Initializer/Secure.php b/src/Driver/Mysqli/Initializer/Secure.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c8b2a558e4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Driver/Mysqli/Initializer/Secure.php
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\Initializer;
+
+use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\Initializer;
+use mysqli;
+
+final class Secure implements Initializer
+{
+    /** @var string|null */
+    private $key;
+
+    /** @var string|null */
+    private $cert;
+
+    /** @var string|null */
+    private $ca;
+
+    /** @var string|null */
+    private $capath;
+
+    /** @var string|null */
+    private $cipher;
+
+    public function __construct(?string $key, ?string $cert, ?string $ca, ?string $capath, ?string $cipher)
+    {
+        $this->key    = $key;
+        $this->cert   = $cert;
+        $this->ca     = $ca;
+        $this->capath = $capath;
+        $this->cipher = $cipher;
+    }
+
+    public function initialize(mysqli $connection): void
+    {
+        $connection->ssl_set($this->key, $this->cert, $this->ca, $this->capath, $this->cipher);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Driver/Mysqli/MysqliConnection.php b/src/Driver/Mysqli/MysqliConnection.php
index 6da2e729152..de3e3c71c4c 100644
--- a/src/Driver/Mysqli/MysqliConnection.php
+++ b/src/Driver/Mysqli/MysqliConnection.php
@@ -9,26 +9,10 @@
 use Doctrine\DBAL\ParameterType;
 use mysqli;
 
-use function defined;
 use function floor;
-use function in_array;
-use function ini_get;
-use function mysqli_errno;
-use function mysqli_error;
 use function mysqli_init;
-use function mysqli_options;
-use function restore_error_handler;
-use function set_error_handler;
-use function sprintf;
 use function stripos;
 
-use const MYSQLI_INIT_COMMAND;
-use const MYSQLI_OPT_CONNECT_TIMEOUT;
-use const MYSQLI_OPT_LOCAL_INFILE;
-use const MYSQLI_READ_DEFAULT_FILE;
-use const MYSQLI_READ_DEFAULT_GROUP;
-use const MYSQLI_SERVER_PUBLIC_KEY;
-
 class MysqliConnection implements PingableConnection, ServerInfoAwareConnection
 {
     /**
@@ -40,53 +24,41 @@ class MysqliConnection implements PingableConnection, ServerInfoAwareConnection
     private $conn;
 
     /**
-     * @param mixed[] $params
-     * @param string  $username
-     * @param string  $password
-     * @param mixed[] $driverOptions
+     * @param iterable<Initializer> $preInitializers
+     * @param iterable<Initializer> $postInitializers
      *
      * @throws MysqliException
      */
-    public function __construct(array $params, $username, $password, array $driverOptions = [])
-    {
-        $socket = $params['unix_socket'] ?? ini_get('mysqli.default_socket');
-        $dbname = $params['dbname'] ?? null;
-        $port   = $params['port'] ?? null;
-
-        if (! empty($params['persistent'])) {
-            if (! isset($params['host'])) {
-                throw HostRequired::forPersistentConnection();
-            }
-
-            $host = 'p:' . $params['host'];
-        } else {
-            $host = $params['host'] ?? null;
+    public function __construct(
+        ?string $host = null,
+        ?string $username = null,
+        ?string $password = null,
+        ?string $database = null,
+        ?int $port = null,
+        ?string $socket = null,
+        ?int $flags = null,
+        iterable $preInitializers = [],
+        iterable $postInitializers = []
+    ) {
+        $connection = mysqli_init();
+
+        foreach ($preInitializers as $initializer) {
+            $initializer->initialize($connection);
         }
 
-        $flags = $driverOptions[static::OPTION_FLAGS] ?? null;
-
-        $this->conn = mysqli_init();
-
-        $this->setSecureConnection($params);
-        $this->setDriverOptions($driverOptions);
-
-        set_error_handler(static function (): bool {
-            return true;
-        });
-
-        try {
-            if (! $this->conn->real_connect($host, $username, $password, $dbname, $port, $socket, $flags)) {
-                throw new MysqliException($this->conn->connect_error, $this->conn->sqlstate ?? 'HY000', $this->conn->connect_errno);
-            }
-        } finally {
-            restore_error_handler();
+        if (! @$connection->real_connect($host, $username, $password, $database, $port, $socket, $flags)) {
+            throw new MysqliException(
+                $connection->connect_error,
+                'HY000',
+                $connection->connect_errno
+            );
         }
 
-        if (! isset($params['charset'])) {
-            return;
+        foreach ($postInitializers as $initializer) {
+            $initializer->initialize($connection);
         }
 
-        $this->conn->set_charset($params['charset']);
+        $this->conn = $connection;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -192,56 +164,6 @@ public function rollBack()
         return $this->conn->rollback();
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Apply the driver options to the connection.
-     *
-     * @param mixed[] $driverOptions
-     *
-     * @throws MysqliException When one of of the options is not supported.
-     * @throws MysqliException When applying doesn't work - e.g. due to incorrect value.
-     */
-    private function setDriverOptions(array $driverOptions = []): void
-    {
-        $supportedDriverOptions = [
-            MYSQLI_OPT_CONNECT_TIMEOUT,
-            MYSQLI_OPT_LOCAL_INFILE,
-            MYSQLI_INIT_COMMAND,
-            MYSQLI_READ_DEFAULT_FILE,
-            MYSQLI_READ_DEFAULT_GROUP,
-        ];
-
-        if (defined('MYSQLI_SERVER_PUBLIC_KEY')) {
-            $supportedDriverOptions[] = MYSQLI_SERVER_PUBLIC_KEY;
-        }
-
-        $exceptionMsg = "%s option '%s' with value '%s'";
-
-        foreach ($driverOptions as $option => $value) {
-            if ($option === static::OPTION_FLAGS) {
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            if (! in_array($option, $supportedDriverOptions, true)) {
-                throw new MysqliException(
-                    sprintf($exceptionMsg, 'Unsupported', $option, $value)
-                );
-            }
-
-            if (@mysqli_options($this->conn, $option, $value)) {
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            $msg  = sprintf($exceptionMsg, 'Failed to set', $option, $value);
-            $msg .= sprintf(', error: %s (%d)', mysqli_error($this->conn), mysqli_errno($this->conn));
-
-            throw new MysqliException(
-                $msg,
-                $this->conn->sqlstate,
-                $this->conn->errno
-            );
-        }
-    }
-
     /**
      * Pings the server and re-connects when `mysqli.reconnect = 1`
      *
@@ -251,32 +173,4 @@ public function ping()
     {
         return $this->conn->ping();
     }
-
-    /**
-     * Establish a secure connection
-     *
-     * @param mixed[] $params
-     *
-     * @throws MysqliException
-     */
-    private function setSecureConnection(array $params): void
-    {
-        if (
-            ! isset($params['ssl_key']) &&
-            ! isset($params['ssl_cert']) &&
-            ! isset($params['ssl_ca']) &&
-            ! isset($params['ssl_capath']) &&
-            ! isset($params['ssl_cipher'])
-        ) {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        $this->conn->ssl_set(
-            $params['ssl_key']    ?? null,
-            $params['ssl_cert']   ?? null,
-            $params['ssl_ca']     ?? null,
-            $params['ssl_capath'] ?? null,
-            $params['ssl_cipher'] ?? null
-        );
-    }
 }
diff --git a/src/Driver/OCI8/Driver.php b/src/Driver/OCI8/Driver.php
index e2df60e2d52..88436af21ff 100644
--- a/src/Driver/OCI8/Driver.php
+++ b/src/Driver/OCI8/Driver.php
@@ -14,11 +14,11 @@ class Driver extends AbstractOracleDriver
     /**
      * {@inheritdoc}
      */
-    public function connect(array $params, $username = null, $password = null, array $driverOptions = [])
+    public function connect(array $params)
     {
         return new OCI8Connection(
-            (string) $username,
-            (string) $password,
+            $params['user'] ?? '',
+            $params['password'] ?? '',
             $this->_constructDsn($params),
             $params['charset'] ?? '',
             $params['sessionMode'] ?? OCI_NO_AUTO_COMMIT,
diff --git a/src/Driver/PDOMySql/Driver.php b/src/Driver/PDOMySql/Driver.php
index 3beb43bc7a1..6d65a2b6686 100644
--- a/src/Driver/PDOMySql/Driver.php
+++ b/src/Driver/PDOMySql/Driver.php
@@ -14,16 +14,18 @@ class Driver extends AbstractMySQLDriver
     /**
      * {@inheritdoc}
      */
-    public function connect(array $params, $username = null, $password = null, array $driverOptions = [])
+    public function connect(array $params)
     {
+        $driverOptions = $params['driver_options'] ?? [];
+
         if (! empty($params['persistent'])) {
             $driverOptions[PDO::ATTR_PERSISTENT] = true;
         }
 
         return new PDOConnection(
             $this->constructPdoDsn($params),
-            $username,
-            $password,
+            $params['user'] ?? '',
+            $params['password'] ?? '',
             $driverOptions
         );
     }
diff --git a/src/Driver/PDOOracle/Driver.php b/src/Driver/PDOOracle/Driver.php
index 3267b6bf823..c3bba5501f2 100644
--- a/src/Driver/PDOOracle/Driver.php
+++ b/src/Driver/PDOOracle/Driver.php
@@ -19,16 +19,18 @@ class Driver extends AbstractOracleDriver
     /**
      * {@inheritdoc}
      */
-    public function connect(array $params, $username = null, $password = null, array $driverOptions = [])
+    public function connect(array $params)
     {
+        $driverOptions = $params['driver_options'] ?? [];
+
         if (! empty($params['persistent'])) {
             $driverOptions[PDO::ATTR_PERSISTENT] = true;
         }
 
         return new PDOConnection(
             $this->constructPdoDsn($params),
-            $username,
-            $password,
+            $params['user'] ?? '',
+            $params['password'] ?? '',
             $driverOptions
         );
     }
diff --git a/src/Driver/PDOPgSql/Driver.php b/src/Driver/PDOPgSql/Driver.php
index cd352fc636f..fbeb0b5ee11 100644
--- a/src/Driver/PDOPgSql/Driver.php
+++ b/src/Driver/PDOPgSql/Driver.php
@@ -16,17 +16,19 @@ class Driver extends AbstractPostgreSQLDriver
     /**
      * {@inheritdoc}
      */
-    public function connect(array $params, $username = null, $password = null, array $driverOptions = [])
+    public function connect(array $params)
     {
+        $driverOptions = $params['driver_options'] ?? [];
+
         if (! empty($params['persistent'])) {
             $driverOptions[PDO::ATTR_PERSISTENT] = true;
         }
 
         $connection = new PDOConnection(
             $this->_constructPdoDsn($params),
-            $username,
-            $password,
-            $driverOptions
+            $params['user'] ?? '',
+            $params['password'] ?? '',
+            $driverOptions,
         );
 
         if (
diff --git a/src/Driver/PDOSqlite/Driver.php b/src/Driver/PDOSqlite/Driver.php
index 779c2576cb8..75bad95a9d6 100644
--- a/src/Driver/PDOSqlite/Driver.php
+++ b/src/Driver/PDOSqlite/Driver.php
@@ -23,8 +23,10 @@ class Driver extends AbstractSQLiteDriver
     /**
      * {@inheritdoc}
      */
-    public function connect(array $params, $username = null, $password = null, array $driverOptions = [])
+    public function connect(array $params)
     {
+        $driverOptions = $params['driver_options'] ?? [];
+
         if (isset($driverOptions['userDefinedFunctions'])) {
             $this->_userDefinedFunctions = array_merge(
                 $this->_userDefinedFunctions,
@@ -35,8 +37,8 @@ public function connect(array $params, $username = null, $password = null, array
 
         $connection = new PDOConnection(
             $this->_constructPdoDsn($params),
-            $username,
-            $password,
+            $params['user'] ?? '',
+            $params['password'] ?? '',
             $driverOptions
         );
 
diff --git a/src/Driver/PDOSqlsrv/Driver.php b/src/Driver/PDOSqlsrv/Driver.php
index e3aa4e1066b..aa94dcf4491 100644
--- a/src/Driver/PDOSqlsrv/Driver.php
+++ b/src/Driver/PDOSqlsrv/Driver.php
@@ -16,15 +16,17 @@ class Driver extends AbstractSQLServerDriver
     /**
      * {@inheritdoc}
      */
-    public function connect(array $params, $username = null, $password = null, array $driverOptions = [])
+    public function connect(array $params)
     {
         $pdoOptions = $dsnOptions = [];
 
-        foreach ($driverOptions as $option => $value) {
-            if (is_int($option)) {
-                $pdoOptions[$option] = $value;
-            } else {
-                $dsnOptions[$option] = $value;
+        if (isset($params['driver_options'])) {
+            foreach ($params['driver_options'] as $option => $value) {
+                if (is_int($option)) {
+                    $pdoOptions[$option] = $value;
+                } else {
+                    $dsnOptions[$option] = $value;
+                }
             }
         }
 
@@ -34,8 +36,8 @@ public function connect(array $params, $username = null, $password = null, array
 
         return new Connection(
             $this->_constructPdoDsn($params, $dsnOptions),
-            $username,
-            $password,
+            $params['user'] ?? '',
+            $params['password'] ?? '',
             $pdoOptions
         );
     }
diff --git a/src/Driver/SQLSrv/Driver.php b/src/Driver/SQLSrv/Driver.php
index 848ab5eef91..91a98cd902a 100644
--- a/src/Driver/SQLSrv/Driver.php
+++ b/src/Driver/SQLSrv/Driver.php
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class Driver extends AbstractSQLServerDriver
     /**
      * {@inheritdoc}
      */
-    public function connect(array $params, $username = null, $password = null, array $driverOptions = [])
+    public function connect(array $params)
     {
         if (! isset($params['host'])) {
             throw new SQLSrvException("Missing 'host' in configuration for sqlsrv driver.");
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ public function connect(array $params, $username = null, $password = null, array
             $serverName .= ', ' . $params['port'];
         }
 
+        $driverOptions = $params['driver_options'] ?? [];
+
         if (isset($params['dbname'])) {
             $driverOptions['Database'] = $params['dbname'];
         }
@@ -31,12 +33,12 @@ public function connect(array $params, $username = null, $password = null, array
             $driverOptions['CharacterSet'] = $params['charset'];
         }
 
-        if ($username !== null) {
-            $driverOptions['UID'] = $username;
+        if (isset($params['user'])) {
+            $driverOptions['UID'] = $params['user'];
         }
 
-        if ($password !== null) {
-            $driverOptions['PWD'] = $password;
+        if (isset($params['password'])) {
+            $driverOptions['PWD'] = $params['password'];
         }
 
         if (! isset($driverOptions['ReturnDatesAsStrings'])) {
diff --git a/tests/Driver/Mysqli/MysqliConnectionTest.php b/tests/Driver/Mysqli/MysqliConnectionTest.php
index 0e36890a2ed..5791fd5d859 100644
--- a/tests/Driver/Mysqli/MysqliConnectionTest.php
+++ b/tests/Driver/Mysqli/MysqliConnectionTest.php
@@ -2,16 +2,14 @@
 
 namespace Doctrine\DBAL\Tests\Driver\Mysqli;
 
+use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\Driver;
 use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\HostRequired;
 use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\MysqliConnection;
-use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Mysqli\MysqliException;
 use Doctrine\DBAL\Platforms\MySqlPlatform;
 use Doctrine\DBAL\Tests\FunctionalTestCase;
 use PHPUnit\Framework\MockObject\MockObject;
 
 use function extension_loaded;
-use function restore_error_handler;
-use function set_error_handler;
 
 class MysqliConnectionTest extends FunctionalTestCase
 {
@@ -44,29 +42,9 @@ public function testDoesNotRequireQueryForServerVersion(): void
         self::assertFalse($this->connectionMock->requiresQueryForServerVersion());
     }
 
-    public function testRestoresErrorHandlerOnException(): void
-    {
-        $handler = static function (): bool {
-            self::fail('Never expected this to be called');
-        };
-
-        $defaultHandler = set_error_handler($handler);
-
-        try {
-            new MysqliConnection(['host' => '255.255.255.255'], 'user', 'pass');
-            self::fail('An exception was supposed to be raised');
-        } catch (MysqliException $e) {
-            self::assertSame('Network is unreachable', $e->getMessage());
-        }
-
-        self::assertSame($handler, set_error_handler($defaultHandler), 'Restoring error handler failed.');
-        restore_error_handler();
-        restore_error_handler();
-    }
-
     public function testHostnameIsRequiredForPersistentConnection(): void
     {
         $this->expectException(HostRequired::class);
-        new MysqliConnection(['persistent' => 'true'], '', '');
+        (new Driver())->connect(['persistent' => 'true']);
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/Driver/PDOPgSql/DriverTest.php b/tests/Driver/PDOPgSql/DriverTest.php
index dda472dd950..1cd737e804c 100644
--- a/tests/Driver/PDOPgSql/DriverTest.php
+++ b/tests/Driver/PDOPgSql/DriverTest.php
@@ -3,13 +3,15 @@
 namespace Doctrine\DBAL\Tests\Driver\PDOPgSql;
 
 use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver as DriverInterface;
-use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\PDOConnection;
+use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\Connection;
 use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\PDOPgSql\Driver;
 use Doctrine\DBAL\Tests\Driver\AbstractPostgreSQLDriverTest;
 use Doctrine\DBAL\Tests\TestUtil;
 use PDO;
 use PDOException;
 
+use function array_merge;
+
 class DriverTest extends AbstractPostgreSQLDriverTest
 {
     public function testReturnsName(): void
@@ -92,15 +94,13 @@ private function skipWhenNotUsingPdoPgsql(): void
     /**
      * @param array<int,mixed> $driverOptions
      */
-    private function connect(array $driverOptions): PDOConnection
+    private function connect(array $driverOptions): Connection
     {
-        $params = TestUtil::getConnectionParams();
-
         return $this->createDriver()->connect(
-            $params,
-            $params['user'] ?? '',
-            $params['password'] ?? '',
-            $driverOptions
+            array_merge(
+                TestUtil::getConnectionParams(),
+                ['driver_options' => $driverOptions]
+            )
         );
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/Functional/Driver/AbstractDriverTest.php b/tests/Functional/Driver/AbstractDriverTest.php
index 7ac7709fdea..86e2a73b755 100644
--- a/tests/Functional/Driver/AbstractDriverTest.php
+++ b/tests/Functional/Driver/AbstractDriverTest.php
@@ -31,10 +31,7 @@ public function testConnectsWithoutDatabaseNameParameter(): void
         $params = $this->connection->getParams();
         unset($params['dbname']);
 
-        $user     = $params['user'] ?? null;
-        $password = $params['password'] ?? null;
-
-        $connection = $this->driver->connect($params, $user, $password);
+        $connection = $this->driver->connect($params);
 
         self::assertInstanceOf(DriverConnection::class, $connection);
     }
diff --git a/tests/Functional/Driver/Mysqli/ConnectionTest.php b/tests/Functional/Driver/Mysqli/ConnectionTest.php
index c54aae250bd..435a612b69c 100644
--- a/tests/Functional/Driver/Mysqli/ConnectionTest.php
+++ b/tests/Functional/Driver/Mysqli/ConnectionTest.php
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 use Doctrine\DBAL\Tests\FunctionalTestCase;
 use Doctrine\DBAL\Tests\TestUtil;
 
+use function array_merge;
 use function extension_loaded;
 
 use const MYSQLI_OPT_CONNECT_TIMEOUT;
@@ -44,7 +45,20 @@ public function testUnsupportedDriverOption(): void
     {
         $this->expectException(MysqliException::class);
 
-        $this->getConnection(['hello' => 'world']); // use local infile
+        $this->getConnection([12345 => 'world']);
+    }
+
+    public function testInvalidCharset(): void
+    {
+        $params = TestUtil::getConnectionParams();
+
+        $this->expectException(MysqliException::class);
+        (new Driver())->connect(
+            array_merge(
+                $params,
+                ['charset' => 'invalid']
+            )
+        );
     }
 
     public function testPing(): void
@@ -60,11 +74,11 @@ private function getConnection(array $driverOptions): MysqliConnection
     {
         $params = TestUtil::getConnectionParams();
 
-        return new MysqliConnection(
-            $params,
-            $params['user'] ?? '',
-            $params['password'] ?? '',
-            $driverOptions
+        return (new Driver())->connect(
+            array_merge(
+                $params,
+                ['driver_options' => $driverOptions]
+            )
         );
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/Functional/Driver/PDOPgSql/DriverTest.php b/tests/Functional/Driver/PDOPgSql/DriverTest.php
index e5db1a085c2..02901d16301 100644
--- a/tests/Functional/Driver/PDOPgSql/DriverTest.php
+++ b/tests/Functional/Driver/PDOPgSql/DriverTest.php
@@ -78,10 +78,7 @@ public function testConnectsWithApplicationNameParameter(): void
         $parameters                     = $this->connection->getParams();
         $parameters['application_name'] = 'doctrine';
 
-        $user     = $parameters['user'] ?? null;
-        $password = $parameters['password'] ?? null;
-
-        $connection = $this->driver->connect($parameters, $user, $password);
+        $connection = $this->driver->connect($parameters);
 
         $hash    = microtime(true); // required to identify the record in the results uniquely
         $sql     = sprintf('SELECT * FROM pg_stat_activity WHERE %d = %d', $hash, $hash);
diff --git a/tests/Functional/Driver/PDOSqlsrv/DriverTest.php b/tests/Functional/Driver/PDOSqlsrv/DriverTest.php
index f568ff35c8f..65006c69c44 100644
--- a/tests/Functional/Driver/PDOSqlsrv/DriverTest.php
+++ b/tests/Functional/Driver/PDOSqlsrv/DriverTest.php
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@
 use Doctrine\DBAL\Tests\TestUtil;
 use PDO;
 
+use function array_merge;
 use function assert;
-
 use function extension_loaded;
 
 class DriverTest extends AbstractDriverTest
@@ -46,13 +46,11 @@ protected static function getDatabaseNameForConnectionWithoutDatabaseNameParamet
      */
     protected function getConnection(array $driverOptions): Connection
     {
-        $params = TestUtil::getConnectionParams();
-
         return $this->connection->getDriver()->connect(
-            $params,
-            $params['user'] ?? '',
-            $params['password'] ?? '',
-            $driverOptions
+            array_merge(
+                TestUtil::getConnectionParams(),
+                ['driver_options' => $driverOptions]
+            )
         );
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/Functional/Schema/SchemaManagerFunctionalTestCase.php b/tests/Functional/Schema/SchemaManagerFunctionalTestCase.php
index aa92bf9ab0d..f0ed94d17a5 100644
--- a/tests/Functional/Schema/SchemaManagerFunctionalTestCase.php
+++ b/tests/Functional/Schema/SchemaManagerFunctionalTestCase.php
@@ -117,10 +117,7 @@ public function testDropsDatabaseWithActiveConnections(): void
             $params['dbname'] = 'test_drop_database';
         }
 
-        $user     = $params['user'] ?? null;
-        $password = $params['password'] ?? null;
-
-        $connection = $this->connection->getDriver()->connect($params, $user, $password);
+        $connection = $this->connection->getDriver()->connect($params);
 
         self::assertInstanceOf(Connection::class, $connection);
 
diff --git a/tests/Functional/Schema/SqliteSchemaManagerTest.php b/tests/Functional/Schema/SqliteSchemaManagerTest.php
index 0ea1a4e4433..5cb5c8522c3 100644
--- a/tests/Functional/Schema/SqliteSchemaManagerTest.php
+++ b/tests/Functional/Schema/SqliteSchemaManagerTest.php
@@ -50,10 +50,7 @@ public function testDropsDatabaseWithActiveConnections(): void
         $params           = $this->connection->getParams();
         $params['dbname'] = 'test_drop_database';
 
-        $user     = $params['user'] ?? null;
-        $password = $params['password'] ?? null;
-
-        $connection = $this->connection->getDriver()->connect($params, $user, $password);
+        $connection = $this->connection->getDriver()->connect($params);
 
         self::assertInstanceOf(Connection::class, $connection);