How can PHP developers handle user sessions and logouts effectively to avoid data discrepancies in the database?

When handling user sessions and logouts in PHP, developers should ensure that session data is properly destroyed upon logout to avoid data discrepancies in the database. This can be achieved by clearing the session data and destroying the session cookie. Additionally, developers should also update the user's status in the database to reflect that they are no longer logged in.

// Clear session data and destroy session cookie on logout
session_start();
session_unset();
session_destroy();

// Update user status in the database to reflect logout
// Assuming $user_id is the ID of the logged-in user
$user_id = $_SESSION['user_id'];
// Perform database update query to set user status to logged out