When should you use a hidden input field in a PHP form?

Hidden input fields in a PHP form are typically used to store values that are not meant to be seen or modified by the user, but are necessary for the form submission process. This can include things like session tokens, user IDs, or other data that needs to be passed along with the form data. To use a hidden input field in a PHP form, you can simply add an input element with a type of "hidden" and set the value attribute to the desired value. This field will be included in the form submission, but will not be visible to the user on the form itself.

<form method="post" action="process_form.php">
    <input type="hidden" name="user_id" value="<?php echo $user_id; ?>">
    <!-- Other form fields here -->
    <input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>