What are the advantages of using LIKE queries with wildcard characters in PHP compared to building complex query conditions based on user input?

When dealing with user input in SQL queries, using LIKE queries with wildcard characters in PHP can be advantageous compared to building complex query conditions based on user input. This is because LIKE queries provide a simpler and more flexible way to search for patterns within the database without having to construct intricate query conditions. Additionally, wildcard characters such as '%' can be used to match any sequence of characters, making it easier to handle varying user input.

// Example of using LIKE queries with wildcard characters in PHP
$user_input = $_POST['search_input']; // Assuming user input is received via POST

// Sanitize user input to prevent SQL injection
$search_term = '%' . $user_input . '%';

// Prepare and execute SQL query using LIKE with wildcard characters
$query = "SELECT * FROM table_name WHERE column_name LIKE ?";
$stmt = $pdo->prepare($query);
$stmt->execute([$search_term]);

// Fetch and display results
while ($row = $stmt->fetch()) {
    echo $row['column_name'] . "<br>";
}