How can PHP developers ensure data integrity and prevent users from manipulating the flow of a multi-page application?

To ensure data integrity and prevent users from manipulating the flow of a multi-page application, PHP developers can use session variables to store important data across pages and perform server-side validation on form submissions. Additionally, developers should sanitize user input to prevent SQL injection and cross-site scripting attacks.

// Start or resume a session
session_start();

// Store data in session variables
$_SESSION['important_data'] = $important_data;

// Perform server-side validation on form submission
if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST') {
    // Sanitize user input
    $input_data = filter_input(INPUT_POST, 'input_data', FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING);
    
    // Validate input data
    if (/* validation condition */) {
        // Process the data
    } else {
        // Handle validation errors
    }
}