How can PHP code be written to handle special characters like quotes effectively?

Special characters like quotes can be effectively handled in PHP by using the addslashes() function to escape these characters before storing them in a database or using them in a query. This function adds a backslash before characters like single quotes, double quotes, and backslashes, which prevents them from being interpreted as part of the code. By using addslashes(), you can ensure that special characters are handled correctly and do not cause syntax errors or security vulnerabilities in your PHP code.

// Example of using addslashes() to handle special characters like quotes
$input = "It's a rainy day";
$escaped_input = addslashes($input);

// Now $escaped_input can be safely used in a query or stored in a database
echo $escaped_input;