What is SQL injection in the context of database security?

SQL injection is a type of security vulnerability that occurs when a malicious SQL query is inserted into input fields of a web application. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to the database or manipulate its contents. By injecting malicious SQL code, attackers can bypass authentication, extract sensitive information, modify or delete data, and even execute administrative tasks on the database server. Implementing input validation, parameterized queries, and using prepared statements are common techniques to prevent SQL injection attacks.