What are the advantages of using PHP to fetch data from a MySQL database for displaying markers on a Google Maps interface compared to other methods?

When displaying markers on a Google Maps interface, using PHP to fetch data from a MySQL database allows for dynamic and real-time updates to the markers based on the database content. This method provides a seamless integration between the database and the map interface, making it easier to manage and update marker information. Additionally, PHP offers robust database connectivity features that streamline the process of retrieving and displaying data on the map.

<?php
// Connect to MySQL database
$servername = "localhost";
$username = "username";
$password = "password";
$dbname = "database";

$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

if ($conn->connect_error) {
    die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error);
}

// Fetch data from MySQL database
$sql = "SELECT * FROM markers";
$result = $conn->query($sql);

$markers = array();

if ($result->num_rows > 0) {
    while($row = $result->fetch_assoc()) {
        $markers[] = array(
            'lat' => $row['lat'],
            'lng' => $row['lng'],
            'name' => $row['name']
        );
    }
}

// Output markers data in JSON format
echo json_encode($markers);

$conn->close();
?>