How can PHP developers ensure the security and integrity of form data when using email as a submission method?

To ensure the security and integrity of form data when using email as a submission method, PHP developers can implement form validation and sanitization to prevent malicious input. They can also use PHP's built-in functions like filter_var() to validate email addresses. Additionally, developers should use secure email transmission methods like SMTP with authentication to prevent data interception.

<?php

// Validate and sanitize form data
$name = filter_var($_POST['name'], FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING);
$email = filter_var($_POST['email'], FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL);
$message = filter_var($_POST['message'], FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING);

// Send email using secure SMTP with authentication
$to = 'recipient@example.com';
$subject = 'Form Submission';
$headers = 'From: ' . $email;

if (mail($to, $subject, $message, $headers)) {
    echo 'Email sent successfully.';
} else {
    echo 'Failed to send email.';
}

?>