Why is it recommended to avoid using SELECT * in SQL queries and what are the alternatives?

Using SELECT * in SQL queries is not recommended because it can lead to performance issues and make the code less maintainable. It is better to explicitly specify the columns you need to retrieve in order to improve query performance and make the code more readable. Alternatives to using SELECT * include listing out the specific columns you want to retrieve or using aliases to make the query more concise.

// Avoid using SELECT * and explicitly specify the columns you need
$query = "SELECT column1, column2, column3 FROM table_name";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $query);

// Using aliases to make the query more concise
$query = "SELECT column1 AS alias1, column2 AS alias2 FROM table_name";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $query);