What does the `$_POST` superglobal in PHP do?

The $_POST superglobal in PHP is specifically designed to collect data from a form that has been submitted using the POST method. When a form is sent via POST, the form data is included in the body of the HTTP request, rather than being appended to the URL as with the GET method. This allows for more data to be sent without length restrictions and provides a way to send sensitive information without exposing it in the URL.

When a script processes the form submission, the data can be accessed through the $_POST array, where each form field name serves as a key, and the corresponding submitted value is the associated value in the array. This is crucial for handling user input in a secure and organized manner.

In contrast, the option related to collecting data from a form submitted using the GET method pertains to the $_GET superglobal, which captures data appended to the URL. The other options regarding sanitization and session storage refer to different functionalities in PHP, which further clarifies the specific role of $_POST.