What are the best practices for comparing and handling data retrieved from a database query in PHP, especially when dealing with numeric values?

When comparing and handling data retrieved from a database query in PHP, especially when dealing with numeric values, it is important to ensure that the data types are consistent to avoid unexpected results. One best practice is to use strict comparison operators (===) to compare numeric values to ensure both the value and data type match. Additionally, sanitizing and validating user input before processing it can help prevent SQL injection attacks.

// Example of comparing and handling numeric values from a database query

// Assuming $dbResult contains the numeric value retrieved from the database
$dbResult = 10;

// Compare the retrieved value with another numeric value using strict comparison
$userInput = 10;
if ($dbResult === $userInput) {
    echo "Values match exactly.";
} else {
    echo "Values do not match.";
}