What are the best practices for securing sensitive information in PHP files?

Securing sensitive information in PHP files involves storing credentials and other confidential data in a secure manner to prevent unauthorized access. One common practice is to store sensitive information in a separate configuration file outside of the web root directory and restrict access to it using appropriate file permissions. Additionally, using encryption techniques such as hashing or encryption algorithms can further enhance security.

<?php
// Define sensitive information
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');
define('DB_USER', 'username');
define('DB_PASS', 'password');
define('DB_NAME', 'database');

// Example of accessing sensitive information
$connection = mysqli_connect(DB_HOST, DB_USER, DB_PASS, DB_NAME);
if (!$connection) {
    die("Connection failed: " . mysqli_connect_error());
}