How can syntax errors in SQL queries affect the output in PHP code?

Syntax errors in SQL queries can cause PHP code to fail when trying to execute the query. This can result in unexpected behavior, such as no data being retrieved or displayed incorrectly. To solve this issue, it is important to carefully check the SQL query for any syntax errors before executing it in PHP code.

<?php
// Example SQL query with syntax error
$sql = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = '$username'"; // Missing closing quote for username variable

// Corrected SQL query
$sql = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = '$username'";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $sql);

// Check for errors in SQL query execution
if (!$result) {
    die('Error: ' . mysqli_error($connection));
}

// Process the query result
while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
    // Display or process the data retrieved
}

// Free the result set
mysqli_free_result($result);

// Close the database connection
mysqli_close($connection);
?>