How can developers ensure that PHP and JavaScript variables are correctly typed and handled to avoid unexpected behavior in a web application?

Developers can ensure that PHP and JavaScript variables are correctly typed and handled by using proper data validation and type checking. This includes checking the type of data being passed between PHP and JavaScript, using functions like is_numeric() and is_string() in PHP, and parseInt() and parseFloat() in JavaScript. By enforcing strict typing and validation, developers can prevent unexpected behavior and potential security vulnerabilities in their web applications.

// PHP code snippet for type checking and validation
$name = $_POST['name'] ?? ''; // Get the name from POST data
if (!is_string($name)) {
    // Handle invalid input
    echo "Invalid input for name";
    exit;
}
// Continue processing the name variable