Refactor PHP Database Access Class for Improved Security and Readability

[bckelley]

We need to refactor our PHP database access class to enhance security, readability, and maintainability. The current implementation lacks proper error handling, uses potentially vulnerable SQL queries, and lacks separation of concerns.

Proposed Changes:

1. Namespace and Autoloading: Introduce namespaces and adhere to PSR-4 autoloading standards to organize the code better and facilitate future maintenance.
2. Error Handling: Implement proper error handling using exceptions instead of relying on die statements. This ensures consistent error reporting and better debugging capabilities.
3. Prepared Statements: Convert SQL queries to prepared statements to prevent SQL injection attacks, enhancing security.
4. Database Configuration: Externalize database configuration into a separate, secure file instead of hardcoding it in the class, adhering to best practices.
5. Dependency Injection: Utilize dependency injection for the error handler and database configuration to improve testability and flexibility.
6. Constructor Return Value: Remove the return statement from the constructor, as constructors should not return values.
7. Documentation: Enhance inline documentation to improve code readability and maintainability.

Expected Benefits:

• Improved security by mitigating SQL injection vulnerabilities.
• Enhanced readability and maintainability through proper error handling and documentation.
• Adherence to coding standards and best practices, facilitating collaboration and future development efforts.

Additional Considerations:

• Ensure comprehensive unit tests are in place to validate the refactored code and prevent regressions.
• Review the refactored code as a team to ensure alignment with project requirements and coding standards.