What is the difference between using $HTTP_POST_VAR and $_POST in PHP for handling form data?

Using $HTTP_POST_VARS is an older method of accessing form data sent via POST method in PHP, while $_POST is the recommended and more secure way to handle form data. It is better to use $_POST as it is a superglobal variable and is more consistent with the rest of PHP's predefined variables.

// Using $_POST to handle form data
$value = $_POST['input_name'];