How can mod_rewrite be utilized to simplify URL forwarding in PHP?

Mod_rewrite can be utilized to simplify URL forwarding in PHP by rewriting the URL to a more user-friendly format. This can help improve the overall user experience and make the URLs easier to read and understand. By using mod_rewrite, you can create rules that map specific URLs to their corresponding PHP scripts, making it easier to manage and maintain your website's URLs.

```php
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^products/([0-9]+)/?$ product.php?id=$1 [NC,L]
```

In this example, the mod_rewrite rule will rewrite URLs like `example.com/products/123` to `example.com/product.php?id=123`, simplifying the URL structure for the user while still pointing to the correct PHP script.