How can the use of single quotes in SQL queries affect the execution and results in PHP?

Using single quotes in SQL queries can cause syntax errors or unexpected results in PHP, especially when dealing with strings that contain special characters. To avoid this issue, it is recommended to use prepared statements with placeholders and bind parameters. This method helps prevent SQL injection attacks and ensures that the query is executed safely.

// Using prepared statements to avoid SQL injection
$pdo = new PDO("mysql:host=localhost;dbname=mydatabase", "username", "password");

// Prepare the SQL query with placeholders
$stmt = $pdo->prepare("SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = :username");

// Bind the parameter to the placeholder
$stmt->bindParam(':username', $username, PDO::PARAM_STR);

// Execute the query
$stmt->execute();

// Fetch the results
$results = $stmt->fetchAll(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC);