What are the potential pitfalls of storing data in a flat file with a .php extension instead of using a database in PHP?

Storing data in a flat file with a .php extension instead of using a database in PHP can lead to security risks, limited scalability, and slower performance. It is recommended to use a database for better data management, security, and efficiency.

// Example of storing data in a flat file
$data = "Some data to store in the file";
$file = fopen("data.php", "w");
fwrite($file, "<?php\n\$data = '$data';\n?>");
fclose($file);

// Example of retrieving data from the flat file
include "data.php";
echo $data;