Should variables be declared as global or local when passing form data to functions in PHP?

When passing form data to functions in PHP, it is generally recommended to declare variables as local within the function rather than global. This helps keep the code organized and prevents potential conflicts or unintended changes to global variables. By declaring variables as local within the function, you can ensure that they are only accessible and relevant within that specific function scope.

// Example of passing form data to a function with local variables
function processFormData($formData) {
    $username = $formData['username'];
    $email = $formData['email'];
    
    // Process the form data using local variables
    // ...
}

// Example of calling the function with form data
$formData = $_POST;
processFormData($formData);