How can the structure and content of database tables impact the success of PHP scripts that interact with MySQL databases, particularly when using join operations?

The structure and content of database tables can impact the success of PHP scripts when interacting with MySQL databases, especially when using join operations. It is crucial to have properly indexed columns that are used in join conditions to ensure efficient query execution. Additionally, having well-normalized tables can simplify the queries and make the code more maintainable.

// Example of a PHP script with proper table structure for efficient join operations
$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

$sql = "SELECT users.name, orders.product
        FROM users
        JOIN orders ON users.id = orders.user_id";

$result = $conn->query($sql);

if ($result->num_rows > 0) {
    while($row = $result->fetch_assoc()) {
        echo "User: " . $row["name"]. " - Product: " . $row["product"]. "<br>";
    }
} else {
    echo "0 results";
}

$conn->close();