How does PHP handle data types when storing values in a database, and how does it affect leading zeros?

When storing values in a database using PHP, data types are important as they determine how the values are stored and retrieved. When dealing with leading zeros, it is essential to use the correct data type to preserve them. For example, if you want to store a value with leading zeros, such as a zip code or a phone number, you should use a data type like VARCHAR instead of INT to ensure the leading zeros are not stripped.

// Example of storing a value with leading zeros using VARCHAR data type
$value = "01234";
$sql = "INSERT INTO table_name (column_name) VALUES ('$value')";
$result = mysqli_query($conn, $sql);