What are some key considerations when passing variables between different pages in a PHP application, especially when dealing with database queries?

When passing variables between different pages in a PHP application, especially when dealing with database queries, it is important to properly sanitize and validate the input to prevent SQL injection attacks. It is also crucial to securely pass the variables using methods such as sessions, cookies, or GET/POST requests to maintain data integrity and security.

// Example of passing variables using sessions
session_start();
$_SESSION['variable_name'] = $variable_value;

// Example of passing variables using GET method
<a href="next_page.php?variable_name=<?php echo $variable_value; ?>">Next Page</a>

// Example of passing variables using POST method
<form action="next_page.php" method="post">
    <input type="hidden" name="variable_name" value="<?php echo $variable_value; ?>">
    <input type="submit" value="Next Page">
</form>