What could be causing the "Database failure: 1064" error in the PHP code provided?

The "Database failure: 1064" error in PHP code typically indicates a syntax error in the SQL query being executed. This could be due to incorrect formatting, missing or misplaced quotes, or invalid SQL keywords. To solve this issue, carefully review the SQL query in the code and ensure that it is correctly formatted and follows the proper syntax rules.

// Incorrect SQL query causing "Database failure: 1064" error
$sql = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = $username";

// Corrected SQL query with proper quoting for the username variable
$sql = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = '$username'";