What role does prepared statements play in ensuring the security of database interactions in PHP, and how does it compare to using mysql_real_escape_string for input sanitization?

Prepared statements play a crucial role in ensuring the security of database interactions in PHP by separating SQL logic from data input, preventing SQL injection attacks. Compared to using mysql_real_escape_string for input sanitization, prepared statements provide a more secure and reliable method of interacting with databases. 

// Using prepared statements to securely interact with a database in PHP
$stmt = $pdo->prepare("SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = :username");
$stmt->bindParam(':username', $username);
$stmt->execute();
$results = $stmt->fetchAll();

Keywords

prepared statements security database interactions PHP mysql_real_escape_string

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