How can using $_POST instead of directly referencing form input names improve data processing in PHP?

Using $_POST instead of directly referencing form input names improves data processing in PHP by providing a more secure and reliable way to access form data. Directly referencing form input names can lead to security vulnerabilities like injection attacks, while using $_POST ensures that the data is coming from a POST request. Additionally, using $_POST makes it easier to handle form data in a more structured and organized manner.

// Using $_POST to access form input data
if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] == "POST") {
    $username = $_POST['username'];
    $password = $_POST['password'];
    
    // Process the form data securely
}