How can PHP beginners improve code readability and maintainability when working with MySQL queries?

PHP beginners can improve code readability and maintainability when working with MySQL queries by using prepared statements instead of directly injecting variables into the query string. Prepared statements help prevent SQL injection attacks and make the code easier to read and maintain. Additionally, separating database logic into separate functions or classes can also improve code organization.

// Using prepared statements to improve code readability and security
$stmt = $pdo->prepare("SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = :username");
$stmt->bindParam(':username', $username);
$stmt->execute();
$results = $stmt->fetchAll();