What are some key considerations for PHP developers when working with external APIs like Google Charts?

When working with external APIs like Google Charts, PHP developers should consider security measures such as validating user input and sanitizing data to prevent injection attacks. They should also carefully handle errors and exceptions to ensure smooth integration with the API. Additionally, developers should familiarize themselves with the API documentation to understand its capabilities and limitations.

// Example code snippet demonstrating how to securely integrate Google Charts API in PHP

// Validate user input
$chartType = isset($_GET['chart_type']) ? $_GET['chart_type'] : 'line';
$chartData = isset($_GET['chart_data']) ? $_GET['chart_data'] : '';

// Sanitize data
$chartType = filter_var($chartType, FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING);
$chartData = filter_var($chartData, FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING);

// Handle errors and exceptions
try {
    // Code to fetch data and generate Google Chart
} catch (Exception $e) {
    echo 'An error occurred: ' . $e->getMessage();
}

// Use Google Charts API documentation for reference
// Example: https://developers.google.com/chart/