In PHP, what are the advantages and disadvantages of handling form validation on the server side versus using JavaScript or AJAX?

When handling form validation on the server side, the main advantage is that it provides an extra layer of security as the validation logic is not exposed to the client. However, this can lead to slower response times as the form needs to be submitted and processed by the server. On the other hand, using JavaScript or AJAX for form validation can provide instant feedback to the user without needing to reload the page, but it may not be as secure as server-side validation.

// Server-side form validation example
if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] == "POST") {
    $name = $_POST["name"];
    if (empty($name)) {
        $errors[] = "Name is required";
    }
    
    // Check for other form fields and validation rules
    
    if (empty($errors)) {
        // Process the form data
    }
}