What are the key differences between testing PHP locally and deploying it on a live website, and how can beginners navigate this process effectively?

The key differences between testing PHP locally and deploying it on a live website include server configurations, database connections, and file paths. Beginners can navigate this process effectively by using a local development environment like XAMPP or MAMP for testing, ensuring compatibility with the live server environment, and thoroughly testing the website before deployment.

// Example code snippet for connecting to a database in PHP
$servername = "localhost";
$username = "root";
$password = "";
$dbname = "mydatabase";

// Create connection
$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

// Check connection
if ($conn->connect_error) {
    die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error);
}
echo "Connected successfully";