What are some common pitfalls to avoid when using PHP to update database values, particularly when dealing with numeric calculations and constraints?

One common pitfall when updating database values in PHP is not properly sanitizing user input, which can lead to SQL injection attacks. To avoid this, always use prepared statements or parameterized queries when interacting with the database. Additionally, be cautious when performing numeric calculations in PHP, as floating-point arithmetic can sometimes lead to unexpected results due to precision issues.

// Example of updating a database value using prepared statements
$pdo = new PDO('mysql:host=localhost;dbname=mydatabase', 'username', 'password');
$stmt = $pdo->prepare('UPDATE mytable SET column = :value WHERE id = :id');
$stmt->bindValue(':value', $newValue, PDO::PARAM_INT);
$stmt->bindValue(':id', $id, PDO::PARAM_INT);
$stmt->execute();