What are the best practices for handling user input and variables in PHP to avoid errors like variable misnaming?

Variable misnaming errors can be avoided by following best practices such as using descriptive variable names, validating user input, and using proper scope for variables. It is important to sanitize and validate user input to prevent injection attacks and ensure data integrity. Additionally, using naming conventions such as camelCase or snake_case can help prevent misnaming errors.

// Example of handling user input and variables in PHP to avoid errors like variable misnaming

// Sanitize and validate user input
$userInput = isset($_POST['user_input']) ? $_POST['user_input'] : '';
$userInput = filter_var($userInput, FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING);

// Using proper variable naming conventions
$firstName = 'John';
$lastName = 'Doe';

// Using descriptive variable names
$totalAmount = 100;

// Proper scope for variables
function calculateTotal($quantity, $price) {
    $total = $quantity * $price;
    return $total;
}

$totalPrice = calculateTotal(5, 20);
echo "Total Price: $totalPrice";