What are the advantages and disadvantages of using $_REQUEST vs $_POST for retrieving form data in PHP?

When retrieving form data in PHP, it is generally recommended to use $_POST over $_REQUEST. This is because $_POST is more secure as it only retrieves data sent via the POST method, while $_REQUEST can also retrieve data sent via GET and COOKIE methods which may pose security risks. Additionally, using $_POST makes your code more explicit and easier to understand as it clearly indicates the method of data transmission being used. 

// Using $_POST to retrieve form data in PHP
if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] == "POST") {
    $username = $_POST["username"];
    $password = $_POST["password"];
    
    // Process the form data
}

Keywords

$_REQUEST $_POST form data advantages disadvantages

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