Is it necessary to use mysql_real_escape_string() for all types of queries, including SELECT, UPDATE, and INSERT?

It is not necessary to use `mysql_real_escape_string()` for SELECT queries since they do not involve inserting user input directly into the database. However, it is crucial to use `mysql_real_escape_string()` for UPDATE and INSERT queries to prevent SQL injection attacks by escaping special characters. It is recommended to use prepared statements or parameterized queries for all types of queries to ensure the security of your application.

// Example of using prepared statements for INSERT query
$stmt = $mysqli->prepare("INSERT INTO table_name (column1, column2) VALUES (?, ?)");
$stmt->bind_param("ss", $value1, $value2);

$value1 = "escaped_value1";
$value2 = "escaped_value2";

$stmt->execute();
$stmt->close();