How can developers balance between thorough email address validation and user-friendly input processes in PHP applications?

Developers can balance between thorough email address validation and user-friendly input processes in PHP applications by using a combination of client-side and server-side validation. This involves implementing JavaScript validation on the front-end to provide immediate feedback to users, while also performing server-side validation to ensure data integrity. By combining these two approaches, developers can create a seamless user experience while still ensuring that all email addresses are properly validated.

<?php

$email = $_POST['email'];

if(filter_var($email, FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL)) {
    // Email address is valid, proceed with processing
} else {
    // Display an error message to the user
    echo "Invalid email address";
}

?>