How can naming conventions for variables improve the readability and maintainability of PHP code, as seen in the forum thread?

Naming conventions for variables can improve the readability and maintainability of PHP code by making it easier for developers to understand the purpose of each variable. By following a consistent naming convention, such as using camelCase or snake_case, developers can quickly identify the role of a variable within the code. This can help reduce confusion and errors when working with the codebase.

// Bad naming convention
$var = "Hello";
$myNumber = 5;

// Good naming convention
$greeting = "Hello";
$myNumber = 5;