Are there specific server configurations or settings that could cause a PHP script to run slower than expected?

Certain server configurations or settings, such as low memory limits, slow disk I/O, or outdated PHP versions, can cause a PHP script to run slower than expected. To improve performance, you can increase memory limits, optimize database queries, enable opcode caching, and ensure your server software is up to date.

// Example of increasing memory limit in PHP
ini_set('memory_limit', '256M');