How can the PHP function http_build_query() be utilized to simplify and secure data transmission in PHP applications?

To simplify and secure data transmission in PHP applications, the http_build_query() function can be utilized to convert an array into a URL-encoded query string. This function not only simplifies the process of sending data via HTTP requests but also helps prevent injection attacks by properly encoding the data.

// Example of using http_build_query() to simplify and secure data transmission
$data = array(
    'username' => 'john_doe',
    'password' => 'securepassword123'
);

$queryString = http_build_query($data);

// Send the data via HTTP request
$url = 'http://example.com/api';
$response = file_get_contents($url . '?' . $queryString);

// Process the response
echo $response;