What are best practices for handling SQL queries in PHP to prevent syntax errors?

To prevent syntax errors when handling SQL queries in PHP, it is best practice to use prepared statements with parameterized queries. This helps to sanitize user input and prevent SQL injection attacks. Additionally, using error handling techniques such as try-catch blocks can help to catch and handle any potential syntax errors that may occur during query execution.

// Establish a database connection
$pdo = new PDO('mysql:host=localhost;dbname=mydatabase', 'username', 'password');

// Prepare a SQL query using a parameterized statement
$stmt = $pdo->prepare('SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = :username');

// Bind the parameter value
$stmt->bindParam(':username', $username);

// Execute the query
$stmt->execute();

// Fetch the results
$results = $stmt->fetchAll();