April 29, 2025 - 23:33
Common PHP Mistakes and Solutions - Part 1 Image
PHP

Common PHP Mistakes and Solutions - Part 1

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PHP is a widely-used scripting language for web development. However, developers often encounter common mistakes that can lead to frustrating bugs or security vulnerabilities.

Here are some of the most frequent PHP errors and how to fix them:


1. Undefined Variable Error

Error: Trying to use a variable that has not been defined.
PHP
echo $name;
Why It Happens: PHP doesn't throw a fatal error for undefined variables, but it does show a 'Notice'. Solution: Always make sure to define variables before using them.
PHP
$name = 'Ali';
echo $name;
Also, you can check if a variable exists using isset() or empty():
PHP
if (isset($name)) {
    echo $name;
} else {
    echo 'Variable is not defined!';
}

2. Headers Already Sent Error

Error: Using header() after output has already been sent to the browser.
PHP
echo 'Welcome!';
header('Location: homepage.php');
Why It Happens: PHP cannot send HTTP headers after output has been sent. Solution: Use header() before any HTML or echo:
PHP
header('Location: homepage.php');
exit;
echo 'Welcome!';
Alternatively, use output buffering with ob_start():
PHP
ob_start();
echo 'Welcome!';
header('Location: homepage.php');
ob_end_flush();

3. Vulnerable to SQL Injection

Error: Using user input directly in SQL queries without validation.
PHP
$query = 'SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = '' . $_GET['username'] . ''';
Why It Happens: This exposes your application to SQL injection attacks. Solution: Always use PDO or sanitize data with mysqli_real_escape_string():
PHP
$stmt = $db->prepare('SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = ?');
$stmt->execute([$_GET['username']]);
$result = $stmt->fetch();

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