How can base64 encoding be used effectively to display images in HTML with PHP?

Base64 encoding can be used effectively to display images in HTML with PHP by converting the image file into a base64 encoded string and embedding it directly into the HTML code. This eliminates the need for separate image files and allows the image to be displayed without needing to reference an external file.

<?php
$image_path = 'path/to/image.jpg';
$image_data = file_get_contents($image_path);
$base64_image = base64_encode($image_data);
$image_src = 'data:image/jpeg;base64,' . $base64_image;
echo '<img src="' . $image_src . '" alt="Image">';
?>