How can the inclusion of LIMIT 1 in a MySQL query statement enhance the performance and reliability of PHP scripts that fetch specific data from a database table?

Including LIMIT 1 in a MySQL query statement can enhance the performance and reliability of PHP scripts that fetch specific data from a database table by limiting the number of rows returned to just one. This can reduce the amount of data that needs to be processed and transferred between the database and the PHP script, resulting in faster query execution and improved efficiency. Additionally, using LIMIT 1 ensures that only one result is returned, which can help prevent errors or unexpected behavior in the PHP script.

// Connect to the database
$connection = mysqli_connect("localhost", "username", "password", "database");

// Prepare and execute the query with LIMIT 1
$query = "SELECT * FROM table_name WHERE column_name = 'specific_value' LIMIT 1";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $query);

// Fetch the data and use it in your PHP script
if ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
    // Process the data here
}

// Close the connection
mysqli_close($connection);