What are the best practices for deploying PHP applications on a web server for optimal performance and security?

To deploy PHP applications on a web server for optimal performance and security, it is recommended to use a secure file structure, enable caching mechanisms, sanitize user input to prevent SQL injection and cross-site scripting attacks, and regularly update PHP and server software to patch any security vulnerabilities.

<?php

// Enable output buffering for improved performance
ob_start();

// Sanitize user input to prevent SQL injection
$clean_input = mysqli_real_escape_string($connection, $_POST['input']);

// Enable caching mechanisms for faster loading times
header('Cache-Control: max-age=3600');

// Regularly update PHP and server software for security patches
?>