What are some best practices for ensuring that only authorized images are uploaded and displayed on a website using PHP?

To ensure that only authorized images are uploaded and displayed on a website using PHP, you can implement image validation checks during the upload process. This can include checking the file type, file size, and dimensions of the image. Additionally, you can restrict access to the uploaded images by storing them in a secure directory and using authentication mechanisms to control access.

// Example PHP code snippet for image upload with validation checks

// Check if the file is an image
$allowedTypes = ['image/jpeg', 'image/png', 'image/gif'];
if (!in_array($_FILES['image']['type'], $allowedTypes)) {
    die('Invalid file type. Only JPEG, PNG, and GIF images are allowed.');
}

// Check if the file size is within limits
$maxFileSize = 5 * 1024 * 1024; // 5MB
if ($_FILES['image']['size'] > $maxFileSize) {
    die('File size exceeds the limit. Maximum file size allowed is 5MB.');
}

// Check if the image dimensions are within limits
$maxWidth = 800;
$maxHeight = 600;
list($width, $height) = getimagesize($_FILES['image']['tmp_name']);
if ($width > $maxWidth || $height > $maxHeight) {
    die('Image dimensions exceed the limit. Maximum dimensions allowed are 800x600.');
}

// Move the uploaded image to a secure directory
$uploadDir = 'uploads/';
$uploadFile = $uploadDir . basename($_FILES['image']['name']);
if (move_uploaded_file($_FILES['image']['tmp_name'], $uploadFile)) {
    echo 'Image uploaded successfully.';
} else {
    echo 'Failed to upload image.';
}