What is the recommended data type for storing dates in a MySQL database to avoid issues with time values?

When storing dates in a MySQL database, it is recommended to use the `DATE` data type to avoid issues with time values. This data type only stores the date portion without any time information, which can prevent unexpected behavior when querying or manipulating dates in the database.

// Create a table with a DATE column to store dates without time values
$sql = "CREATE TABLE my_dates (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    my_date DATE
)";
$conn->query($sql);