How can PHP variables be properly passed through URLs for sorting functionality?

To pass PHP variables through URLs for sorting functionality, you can use query parameters in the URL. This involves appending variables to the URL using the '?' symbol followed by the variable name and value pairs. In the receiving PHP file, you can then access these variables using the $_GET superglobal array.

// Example of passing a variable through URL for sorting functionality
// URL: example.com/sort.php?sort_by=date

$sortBy = isset($_GET['sort_by']) ? $_GET['sort_by'] : 'default';

// Use $sortBy variable for sorting logic