What are some common pitfalls for PHP beginners when using phpMyAdmin?

One common pitfall for PHP beginners when using phpMyAdmin is not properly securing the database connection credentials, which can lead to security vulnerabilities. To solve this issue, it is important to store the database credentials in a separate configuration file outside of the web root directory. 

// config.php
<?php
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');
define('DB_USER', 'username');
define('DB_PASS', 'password');
define('DB_NAME', 'database_name');
```

Another common pitfall is not sanitizing user input before executing SQL queries, which can make the application vulnerable to SQL injection attacks. To prevent this, always use prepared statements or parameterized queries when interacting with the database.

```php
// Using prepared statements
$stmt = $pdo->prepare("SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = :username");
$stmt->bindParam(':username', $username);
$stmt->execute();
```

Lastly, beginners often forget to backup their database regularly, which can result in data loss in case of a server crash or accidental deletion. It is recommended to set up automated backups or manually export the database periodically through phpMyAdmin.

```php
// Automated backup script
<?php
exec('mysqldump -u username -p password database_name > backup.sql');

Keywords

phpMyAdmin SQL injection database management security vulnerabilities user privileges

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