How important is it to ensure consistency between form field names and variable names when working with PHP and databases?

It is crucial to ensure consistency between form field names and variable names when working with PHP and databases to avoid errors and ensure smooth data processing. Mismatched names can lead to issues like data not being properly inserted or retrieved from the database. By keeping the names consistent, you can streamline the data flow and make your code more maintainable.

// Example of ensuring consistency between form field names and variable names
$form_field_name = $_POST['form_field_name'];
// Ensure that the form field name matches the database column name when inserting data
$query = "INSERT INTO table_name (column_name) VALUES ('$form_field_name')";
// Ensure that the variable name matches the database column name when retrieving data
$query = "SELECT column_name FROM table_name WHERE column_name = '$form_field_name'";