What are common syntax errors to avoid when using mysql_query in PHP?

Common syntax errors to avoid when using mysql_query in PHP include not properly escaping input data, not checking for errors returned by the query, and using deprecated functions. To avoid these issues, it is recommended to use parameterized queries with prepared statements, check for errors after executing the query, and use the mysqli or PDO extension instead of the deprecated mysql extension.

// Avoid common syntax errors by using mysqli or PDO extension and prepared statements

// Example using mysqli extension and prepared statement
$mysqli = new mysqli("localhost", "username", "password", "database");
$stmt = $mysqli->prepare("SELECT * FROM table WHERE column = ?");
$stmt->bind_param("s", $value);
$stmt->execute();
$result = $stmt->get_result();

// Check for errors
if(!$result) {
    die("Error: " . $mysqli->error);
}

// Process the result
while($row = $result->fetch_assoc()) {
    // Do something with the data
}

// Close the statement and connection
$stmt->close();
$mysqli->close();