What does PDO stand for in PHP?

The term PDO stands for PHP Data Objects, which is a database access layer providing a uniform interface for accessing multiple types of databases in PHP. It allows developers to perform database operations in a secure and efficient manner by offering prepared statements, which help mitigate SQL injection vulnerabilities.

PDO is designed to support different database management systems (DBMSs), including MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite, among others, without requiring changes to the PHP codebase. This abstraction makes it easier to switch between different databases if necessary while maintaining the same code structure, promoting code reusability and flexibility.

Each of the other options does not accurately reflect the purpose or functionality of PDO. 'PHP Document Object' suggests a focus on document structure, which is not related to database interactions. 'PHP Dynamic Output' implies a feature oriented towards output generation rather than database handling, and 'PHP Database Operations' is somewhat close but lacks the specificity and definition provided by "Data Objects." Thus, identifying PDO as PHP Data Objects is essential for understanding its role in PHP database interaction.