How can one ensure proper syntax and structure when writing PHP code to interact with a MySQL database?

To ensure proper syntax and structure when writing PHP code to interact with a MySQL database, it is important to use prepared statements to prevent SQL injection attacks and properly handle errors. Additionally, organizing your code into functions or classes can help improve readability and maintainability.

<?php
// Establish a connection to the MySQL database
$servername = "localhost";
$username = "username";
$password = "password";
$dbname = "database";
$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

// Check connection
if ($conn->connect_error) {
    die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error);
}

// Prepare and execute a SQL query using prepared statements
$stmt = $conn->prepare("SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = ?");
$stmt->bind_param("s", $username);
$username = "example";
$stmt->execute();
$result = $stmt->get_result();

// Handle errors and process the query result
if ($result->num_rows > 0) {
    while($row = $result->fetch_assoc()) {
        echo "Username: " . $row["username"]. "<br>";
    }
} else {
    echo "0 results";
}

// Close the connection
$stmt->close();
$conn->close();
?>