Why is it important to differentiate between $_post and $_POST variables in PHP, and how can this distinction impact script functionality?

It is important to differentiate between $_post and $_POST variables in PHP because they are case-sensitive. Using the incorrect case can lead to undefined variable errors or unexpected behavior in your script. To ensure proper functionality, always use $_POST in uppercase when referencing form data submitted via POST method.

// Correct way to access form data submitted via POST method
$username = $_POST['username'];
$password = $_POST['password'];