What are the advantages of using filter_var() or filter_input() for data validation in PHP over regular expressions like preg_match()?

Using filter_var() or filter_input() for data validation in PHP is advantageous over regular expressions like preg_match() because they provide a simpler and more readable way to validate input data. These functions are specifically designed for data validation and offer built-in filters for common validation tasks such as validating email addresses, URLs, and more. Additionally, filter_var() and filter_input() automatically handle sanitization of input data, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities such as SQL injection. 

// Example of using filter_var() for data validation
$email = "john.doe@example.com";

if (filter_var($email, FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL)) {
    echo "Valid email address";
} else {
    echo "Invalid email address";
}

Keywords

filter_var filter_input data validation PHP preg_match

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