What role does the usage of $_POST variables play in the functionality of a PHP contact form?

When submitting a form in PHP, the data is typically sent using the POST method. The $_POST superglobal is used to collect this data on the server-side, allowing you to access the form input values and process them accordingly. In the context of a contact form, $_POST variables are essential for capturing the user's input such as name, email, and message, which can then be used to send an email or store in a database.

<?php
if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] == "POST") {
    $name = $_POST['name'];
    $email = $_POST['email'];
    $message = $_POST['message'];

    // Process the form data, e.g., send an email or store in a database
}
?>