How can developers future-proof their code when using PHP functions that may become outdated in newer versions?

Developers can future-proof their code by avoiding the use of deprecated PHP functions and instead using modern alternatives that are likely to be supported in future versions. They can also regularly update their codebase to ensure compatibility with the latest PHP versions.

// Example of using a modern alternative to the deprecated function
// Deprecated function: mysql_connect()
// Modern alternative: mysqli_connect()

// Deprecated way
$conn = mysql_connect($servername, $username, $password);

// Modern way
$conn = mysqli_connect($servername, $username, $password);