In the context of PHP and MySQL, what are the differences between using apostrophes, backticks, or no quotes when specifying database and table names in queries?

When specifying database and table names in queries in PHP and MySQL, it is important to use backticks (`) to wrap around the names. This is because using apostrophes (') or no quotes can lead to syntax errors, especially if the names contain special characters or reserved words. By using backticks, you ensure that the names are treated as identifiers and avoid any potential issues.

// Example query using backticks for database and table names
$query = "SELECT * FROM `database_name`.`table_name` WHERE column = 'value'";