How can variables be properly concatenated within SQL queries in PHP to avoid column not found errors?

When concatenating variables within SQL queries in PHP, it is important to properly format the variables to avoid column not found errors. One way to do this is by using prepared statements with placeholders for the variables and binding the values to the placeholders. This helps prevent SQL injection attacks and ensures that the variables are correctly interpreted by the database.

// Example of concatenating variables within an SQL query using prepared statements

// Assuming $conn is the database connection object

// Variables to be concatenated
$column1 = "name";
$column2 = "age";

// SQL query with placeholders
$sql = "SELECT * FROM table_name WHERE column1 = ? AND column2 = ?";

// Prepare the statement
$stmt = $conn->prepare($sql);

// Bind the variables to the placeholders
$stmt->bind_param("ss", $column1, $column2);

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

// Get the result
$result = $stmt->get_result();

// Fetch and process the data
while ($row = $result->fetch_assoc()) {
    // Process the data here
}

// Close the statement and connection
$stmt->close();
$conn->close();