What are the limitations of using client information in PHP for user data retrieval?

Using client information in PHP for user data retrieval can be risky as it is not a secure method. Client information can be easily manipulated or spoofed, leading to potential security vulnerabilities. It is recommended to use server-side validation and authentication methods to ensure the security and integrity of user data retrieval.

// Example of using server-side validation and authentication for user data retrieval

// Check if the user is authenticated
if (isset($_SESSION['user_id'])) {
    $user_id = $_SESSION['user_id'];
    
    // Retrieve user data from the database using the authenticated user ID
    $query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = $user_id";
    $result = mysqli_query($conn, $query);
    
    // Process the retrieved user data
    if ($result && mysqli_num_rows($result) > 0) {
        $user_data = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result);
        // Use the user data as needed
    }
}