To prevent SQL injection in PHP, follow these best practices:
1. Use Prepared Statements and Parameterized Queries:
Always use prepared statements with libraries like PDO or MySQLi to bind input values. Example with PDO:
$stmt = $pdo->prepare(“SELECT * FROM users WHERE email = :email”);
$stmt->execute([’email’ => $email]);
2. Validate and Sanitize User Input:
Ensure all input data is validated (e.g., format, length) and sanitized using appropriate filters like filter_var().
3. Limit Database Privileges:
Use the principle of least privilege, restricting database user access.
4. Use Stored Procedures:
Encapsulate queries in stored procedures for added security.
5. Avoid Dynamic Queries:
Refrain from directly concatenating user input in SQL queries.
These practices significantly reduce SQL injection risks.