How can one improve code readability and maintainability by avoiding the use of deprecated functions in PHP?

Using deprecated functions in PHP can lead to code that is harder to read and maintain, as these functions may be removed in future versions of PHP. To improve code readability and maintainability, it's important to avoid using deprecated functions and instead use their recommended alternatives. This can help ensure that your code remains compatible with future PHP versions and is easier for other developers to understand and work with.

// Deprecated function example
$deprecatedResult = mysql_query($query);

// Recommended alternative
$mysqli = new mysqli($host, $username, $password, $database);
$result = $mysqli->query($query);