Are there alternative methods to improve the readability and security of PHP queries instead of directly inserting mysql_real_escape_string() into the query?

When inserting user input into a SQL query in PHP, it is important to sanitize the input to prevent SQL injection attacks. Instead of directly using mysql_real_escape_string(), you can use prepared statements with parameterized queries to improve readability and security. Prepared statements separate the SQL query from the user input, making it harder for attackers to inject malicious code. 

// Using prepared statements to improve readability and security of PHP queries
$pdo = new PDO("mysql:host=localhost;dbname=myDB", $username, $password);

// Prepare a SQL query with a placeholder for user input
$stmt = $pdo->prepare("SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = :username");

// Bind the user input to the placeholder
$stmt->bindParam(':username', $username);

// Execute the query
$stmt->execute();

// Fetch the results
$results = $stmt->fetchAll();

Keywords

prepared statements PDO parameterized queries SQL injection data validation

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