How can PHP developers ensure proper data validation and sanitization when inserting user input into a MySQL database?

PHP developers can ensure proper data validation and sanitization by using prepared statements and parameterized queries when inserting user input into a MySQL database. This helps prevent SQL injection attacks and ensures that the data being inserted is properly formatted and sanitized.

// Establish a database connection
$pdo = new PDO('mysql:host=localhost;dbname=mydatabase', 'username', 'password');

// Prepare a SQL statement with a placeholder for user input
$stmt = $pdo->prepare("INSERT INTO users (username, email) VALUES (:username, :email)");

// Bind the user input to the placeholders and execute the query
$stmt->bindParam(':username', $_POST['username']);
$stmt->bindParam(':email', $_POST['email']);
$stmt->execute();