How can prepared statements be utilized in PHP to enhance security and prevent data leakage, especially in scenarios where sensitive database operations are involved?

Using prepared statements in PHP can enhance security and prevent data leakage by separating SQL logic from user input. This means that user input is treated as data rather than executable code, reducing the risk of SQL injection attacks. Prepared statements also automatically handle escaping and sanitizing input values, making it more difficult for malicious users to manipulate queries.

// Using prepared statements to prevent SQL injection
$stmt = $pdo->prepare("SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = :username AND password = :password");
$stmt->bindParam(':username', $username);
$stmt->bindParam(':password', $password);
$stmt->execute();