Why is it important to properly handle string values, including escaping and quoting, when sending data to a database in PHP?

It is important to properly handle string values when sending data to a database in PHP to prevent SQL injection attacks. By escaping and quoting string values, you can ensure that special characters are properly handled and do not inadvertently alter the structure of the SQL query. This helps to protect your database from malicious attacks and ensures the integrity of your data. 

// Example of properly handling string values when sending data to a database in PHP

// Assuming $db is your database connection

// Unsafe way without handling string values properly
$name = $_POST['name'];
$query = "INSERT INTO users (name) VALUES ('$name')";
$result = $db->query($query);

// Safe way with proper escaping and quoting
$name = $db->real_escape_string($_POST['name']);
$query = "INSERT INTO users (name) VALUES ('$name')";
$result = $db->query($query);

Keywords

SQL injection prepared statements mysqli_real_escape_string PDO data sanitization

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