How can efficient programming techniques reduce the parsing time of PHP files on the server?

Efficient programming techniques such as minimizing the use of nested loops, avoiding unnecessary function calls, and optimizing database queries can reduce the parsing time of PHP files on the server. Additionally, using caching mechanisms like opcode caching can also help improve performance.

// Example of optimizing database query by fetching only necessary data
// Original query
$query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE status = 'active'";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $query);

// Optimized query
$query = "SELECT id, username, email FROM users WHERE status = 'active'";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $query);