What are the potential security risks of using eval() in PHP to execute a string as code?

Using eval() in PHP to execute a string as code can pose significant security risks, as it allows for the execution of arbitrary code which can lead to code injection attacks, vulnerabilities, and potential exploits. To mitigate these risks, it is recommended to avoid using eval() whenever possible and instead find alternative methods to achieve the desired functionality.

// Avoid using eval() and find alternative methods