How can absolute file paths be utilized effectively in PHP scripts to ensure proper file manipulation and avoid errors?

When working with file paths in PHP scripts, using absolute file paths instead of relative paths can help ensure proper file manipulation and avoid errors. Absolute paths specify the full path from the root directory to the file, removing any ambiguity about the file's location. This can prevent issues such as files not being found or accessed correctly due to the script's working directory.

// Using absolute file paths to ensure proper file manipulation
$absolutePath = '/var/www/html/myproject/data/file.txt';

// Example of reading a file using the absolute path
$fileContents = file_get_contents($absolutePath);
echo $fileContents;