How can developers ensure proper connection to a database in PHP to avoid errors in SQL queries?

To ensure proper connection to a database in PHP and avoid errors in SQL queries, developers should use the PDO (PHP Data Objects) extension. PDO provides a consistent interface for accessing databases, which helps prevent SQL injection attacks and other security vulnerabilities. By using prepared statements and binding parameters, developers can securely execute SQL queries without the risk of errors.

<?php
$servername = "localhost";
$username = "username";
$password = "password";
$dbname = "database";

try {
    $conn = new PDO("mysql:host=$servername;dbname=$dbname", $username, $password);
    $conn->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);
    echo "Connected successfully";
} catch(PDOException $e) {
    echo "Connection failed: " . $e->getMessage();
}