How can outdated OpenSSL libraries or PHP versions affect the ability to connect to Gmail via IMAP in PHP?

Outdated OpenSSL libraries or PHP versions can affect the ability to connect to Gmail via IMAP in PHP because they may not support the required encryption protocols or security standards. To solve this issue, it is recommended to update both the OpenSSL libraries and PHP to the latest versions available.

// Set the minimum required version of OpenSSL
if (version_compare(OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER, '1.1.1') < 0) {
    die('OpenSSL version 1.1.1 or higher is required.');
}

// Set the minimum required version of PHP
if (version_compare(PHP_VERSION, '7.2.0') < 0) {
    die('PHP version 7.2.0 or higher is required.');
}

// Your IMAP connection code here