What are the potential pitfalls of storing form data in a database for multi-step forms?

Potential pitfalls of storing form data in a database for multi-step forms include increased complexity in managing and updating the data, potential data inconsistency if the form is abandoned before completion, and potential security risks if sensitive data is stored without proper encryption. To mitigate these risks, consider storing the form data temporarily in session variables until the form is submitted in its entirety. 

<?php
session_start();

// Store form data in session variables
$_SESSION['step1_data'] = $_POST['step1_data'];
$_SESSION['step2_data'] = $_POST['step2_data'];
$_SESSION['step3_data'] = $_POST['step3_data'];

// Once all steps are completed, insert data into database
if(isset($_POST['submit'])) {
    $step1_data = $_SESSION['step1_data'];
    $step2_data = $_SESSION['step2_data'];
    $step3_data = $_SESSION['step3_data'];

    // Insert data into database and unset session variables
    unset($_SESSION['step1_data']);
    unset($_SESSION['step2_data']);
    unset($_SESSION['step3_data']);
}
?>

Keywords

SQL injection data validation session management form submission database schema.

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