In PHP, what are the best practices for handling user authentication and authorization levels when accessing different sections of a website?

When handling user authentication and authorization levels in PHP, it is important to verify the user's identity before granting access to different sections of a website. This can be achieved by implementing a secure login system that validates user credentials and assigns appropriate authorization levels. It is also recommended to use session management to keep track of authenticated users and their permissions.

// Example code snippet for handling user authentication and authorization levels in PHP

// Start session
session_start();

// Check if user is logged in
if(!isset($_SESSION['user_id'])) {
    // Redirect to login page if user is not authenticated
    header("Location: login.php");
    exit();
}

// Check user's authorization level
if($_SESSION['user_role'] !== 'admin') {
    // Redirect to unauthorized page if user does not have admin role
    header("Location: unauthorized.php");
    exit();
}

// Proceed to access admin section if user is authenticated and has admin role
echo "Welcome, Admin!";