What is the purpose of using number codes for user rights in a MySQL database in PHP?

Using number codes for user rights in a MySQL database in PHP allows for a more efficient and organized way to manage user permissions. Instead of storing and checking for multiple strings or boolean values, a single number code can represent a specific set of permissions. This simplifies the process of granting or revoking user rights and makes it easier to implement access control in the application.

// Example of using number codes for user rights in a MySQL database in PHP

// Define number codes for user rights
define('READ_ONLY', 1);
define('READ_WRITE', 2);
define('ADMIN', 3);

// Check user rights
$userRights = getUserRightsFromDatabase(); // Function to retrieve user rights from database

if ($userRights == READ_ONLY) {
    echo "User has read-only access.";
} elseif ($userRights == READ_WRITE) {
    echo "User has read and write access.";
} elseif ($userRights == ADMIN) {
    echo "User has admin access.";
} else {
    echo "User rights not recognized.";
}