What best practices should be followed when using mysqli prepared statements for database operations in PHP?

When using mysqli prepared statements for database operations in PHP, it is important to follow best practices to prevent SQL injection attacks and ensure data security. Always use parameterized queries with placeholders for user input to sanitize and validate data before executing the query. Additionally, make sure to properly bind parameters and handle errors to prevent any potential vulnerabilities.

// Example of using mysqli prepared statements with parameterized queries
$mysqli = new mysqli("localhost", "username", "password", "database");

// Check connection
if ($mysqli->connect_error) {
    die("Connection failed: " . $mysqli->connect_error);
}

// Prepare a statement with a placeholder
$stmt = $mysqli->prepare("INSERT INTO users (username, email) VALUES (?, ?)");

// Bind parameters
$stmt->bind_param("ss", $username, $email);

// Set parameters and execute the query
$username = "john_doe";
$email = "john.doe@example.com";
$stmt->execute();

// Close statement and connection
$stmt->close();
$mysqli->close();