How can PHP beginners separate validation code from their main index.php file?

PHP beginners can separate validation code from their main index.php file by creating a separate PHP file for validation functions and including it in the main index.php file using the `require_once` or `include_once` function. This helps in keeping the code organized and maintainable, as the validation logic is contained in a separate file.

// validation.php
<?php

function validateInput($input) {
    // validation logic here
}

?>

// index.php
<?php

require_once 'validation.php';

// main code logic here

?>