What are the best practices for handling $_REQUEST in PHP code?

When handling $_REQUEST in PHP code, it is important to validate and sanitize the input data to prevent security vulnerabilities such as SQL injection or cross-site scripting attacks. It is also recommended to use specific superglobals like $_GET or $_POST whenever possible to clearly indicate the source of the data.

// Example of handling $_REQUEST in PHP code
if(isset($_REQUEST['user_id'])){
    $user_id = filter_var($_REQUEST['user_id'], FILTER_SANITIZE_NUMBER_INT);
    
    // Use $user_id safely in your code
}