How can developers ensure robust error handling for functions like realpath in PHP to avoid surprises in their code?

Developers can ensure robust error handling for functions like realpath in PHP by checking for errors using the error_get_last() function after calling realpath. This allows developers to handle any potential errors gracefully and avoid unexpected behavior in their code.

$path = realpath($file);

if ($path === false) {
    $error = error_get_last();
    // Handle the error appropriately, such as logging it or displaying a user-friendly message
}