Why is it important to avoid using SELECT * in SQL queries according to PHP best practices?

Using SELECT * in SQL queries is discouraged in PHP best practices because it can lead to inefficient queries and potential security risks. By explicitly listing the columns you need in your query, you can improve performance and reduce the risk of exposing sensitive data. It also makes your code more maintainable and easier to understand. 

// Avoid using SELECT * in SQL queries
$query = "SELECT column1, column2, column3 FROM table_name WHERE condition = 'value'";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $query);

// Process the query result
if ($result) {
    while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
        // Process each row
    }
} else {
    echo "Error: " . mysqli_error($connection);
}

Keywords

SQL queries SELECT * performance security maintenance

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