Why is it recommended to avoid using "SELECT *" in SQL queries when fetching data in PHP?

Using "SELECT *" in SQL queries is not recommended because it can lead to performance issues and potential security risks. When fetching data in PHP, it is better to explicitly specify the columns you need to retrieve to avoid unnecessary data retrieval and potential exposure of sensitive information. By specifying the columns, you can also improve the readability of your code and make it easier to maintain in the future. 

<?php
// Specify the columns you want to retrieve instead of using SELECT *
$query = "SELECT column1, column2, column3 FROM table_name";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $query);

// Fetch data from the result set
while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
    // Process the retrieved data
}
?>

Keywords

SQL queries SELECT * data fetching performance security

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