Is it better to use Active Record for handling database interactions in PHP?

Using Active Record for handling database interactions in PHP can be beneficial as it simplifies the process of interacting with databases by abstracting SQL queries into object-oriented methods. This can make code more readable, maintainable, and easier to work with. However, Active Record may not be suitable for complex database operations or when performance is a critical factor.

// Example of using Active Record pattern in PHP
class User extends ActiveRecord {
    protected $table = 'users';
    
    public function getAllUsers() {
        return $this->findAll();
    }
    
    public function getUserById($id) {
        return $this->find($id);
    }
    
    public function updateUser($id, $data) {
        $this->update($id, $data);
    }
}

// Example usage
$user = new User();
$allUsers = $user->getAllUsers();
$userById = $user->getUserById(1);
$user->updateUser(1, ['name' => 'John Doe']);