What are the differences between using the comparison operators "=" and "===" in PHP when comparing IP addresses in SQL queries?

When comparing IP addresses in SQL queries in PHP, it is important to use the "===" operator for strict comparison. This is because the regular "=" operator may not take into account the data types of the IP addresses, leading to unexpected results. By using "===" for strict comparison, you ensure that both the values and data types are identical when comparing IP addresses.

// Using strict comparison operator "===" to compare IP addresses in SQL queries
$ip_address = "192.168.1.1";
$sql = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE ip_address = ?";
$stmt = $pdo->prepare($sql);
$stmt->execute([$ip_address]);