How can the use of hidden fields in PHP be beneficial for passing search criteria without hindering direct linking to search results?

When passing search criteria in PHP, using hidden fields can be beneficial as they allow data to be sent along with a form submission without being visible to the user. This can help maintain the integrity of the search criteria while still allowing for direct linking to search results. By storing the search criteria in hidden fields, the data can be easily accessed and processed on the server side without interfering with the user experience. 

```php
<form action="search_results.php" method="get">
    <input type="text" name="search_query">
    <input type="hidden" name="category" value="books">
    <input type="submit" value="Search">
</form>
```

In this example, the search criteria (such as the search query and category) are stored in hidden fields within a form. When the form is submitted, the data is sent to the "search_results.php" page where it can be processed and used to generate the search results. This allows for direct linking to the search results page while still passing the necessary criteria.

Keywords

hidden fields PHP search criteria direct linking search results

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