Are there any specific recommendations for adjusting PHP scripts to work with PHP 5 and above, especially in terms of global variables like $_ENV?

When working with PHP 5 and above, it is recommended to use the superglobal arrays like $_ENV in a more secure and controlled manner. One way to do this is by accessing the values using the filter_input() function, which allows you to specify the type of input you are expecting. This helps prevent security vulnerabilities and ensures compatibility with newer PHP versions.

$env_variable = filter_input(INPUT_ENV, 'ENV_VARIABLE', FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING);