How can exceptions be utilized in PHP to handle errors more effectively than manual error checking?

Exceptions in PHP can be utilized to handle errors more effectively than manual error checking by allowing for centralized error handling. When an exception is thrown, it can be caught and handled in a single location, making it easier to manage and debug errors. Additionally, exceptions can be used to handle both expected and unexpected errors, providing a more robust error-handling mechanism.

try {
    // Code that may throw an exception
    throw new Exception("An error occurred");
} catch (Exception $e) {
    // Handle the exception
    echo "Error: " . $e->getMessage();
}