Why is it recommended to avoid using SELECT * in SQL queries and instead specify the column names?

Using SELECT * in SQL queries can cause performance issues and make the code harder to maintain. It's recommended to specify the column names explicitly to improve readability, reduce the amount of data transferred, and avoid potential conflicts if the table schema changes. 

// Incorrect way using SELECT *
$query = "SELECT * FROM users";

// Correct way specifying column names
$query = "SELECT id, username, email FROM users";

Keywords

PHP SQL queries SELECT * column names performance.

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