What are some best practices for handling variable definitions and queries in PHP code?

When defining variables in PHP code, it is important to follow best practices to ensure clarity and maintainability. One common practice is to use meaningful variable names that describe the data they hold. Additionally, it is recommended to initialize variables before using them to avoid potential errors. When writing queries in PHP, it is crucial to properly sanitize user input to prevent SQL injection attacks. Example:

// Define variables with meaningful names and initialize them
$userName = "John Doe";
$age = 30;

// Sanitize user input before using it in a query
$userId = $_GET['user_id'];
$userId = filter_var($userId, FILTER_SANITIZE_NUMBER_INT);

// Example query using sanitized input
$query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = $userId";