How does the WordPress database abstraction layer, specifically the global $wpdb object, let you safely run custom database queries beyond what the standard WordPress functions already provide?

While WordPress provides many built in functions for common database operations like retrieving posts or managing options, sometimes a plugin genuinely needs to run a custom database query beyond what those standard functions cover, and the global $wpdb object provides direct, safe access to the underlying WordPress database connection, including a prepare method that works similarly to a prepared statement, safely inserting user supplied values into a custom SQL query without introducing a SQL injection vulnerability.

global $wpdb;
$results = $wpdb->get_results(
    $wpdb->prepare("SELECT * FROM {$wpdb->prefix}products WHERE price > %d", $minPrice)
);