Are there specific functions or methods in PHP that can help prevent SQL injection attacks?

SQL injection attacks can be prevented in PHP by using prepared statements with parameterized queries. This method separates SQL code from user input, making it impossible for attackers to inject malicious code into the query. By using prepared statements, the SQL engine can distinguish between code and data, ensuring that user input is treated as data and not executable code.

// Using prepared statements to prevent SQL injection

// Establish a connection to the database
$pdo = new PDO('mysql:host=localhost;dbname=mydatabase', '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', $_POST['username']);

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

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