How can multiple require_once calls impact the functionality of a PHP script, especially when integrating external libraries like ReCaptcha?

Having multiple require_once calls in a PHP script can lead to conflicts or errors if the same file is included multiple times. To avoid this, it's best to use require_once for each external library or file only once in the script. This ensures that the file is included only once, preventing any conflicts or redeclaration issues.

require_once 'external_library_1.php';
require_once 'external_library_2.php';
require_once 'external_library_3.php';
// Rest of the PHP script