Why is it recommended not to use SELECT * in SQL queries in PHP scripts?

Using SELECT * in SQL queries in PHP scripts is not recommended because it can fetch unnecessary columns, leading to increased network traffic and slower query performance. It is better to explicitly specify the columns you need in the SELECT statement to improve query efficiency and reduce the chances of unexpected data changes affecting your code.

// Specify the columns you need in the SELECT statement instead of using SELECT *
$query = "SELECT column1, column2, column3 FROM your_table";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $query);

// Process the query result as needed