What potential security benefits does using a database offer in PHP applications?
Using a database in PHP applications can offer several security benefits, such as protecting against SQL injection attacks by using parameterized queries, implementing proper authentication and authorization controls, and encrypting sensitive data to prevent unauthorized access.
// Example of using parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection
$stmt = $pdo->prepare('SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = :username');
$stmt->bindParam(':username', $username);
$stmt->execute();