How can PHP developers effectively handle SSL protocol errors when sending data over HTTPS?

When sending data over HTTPS, PHP developers can effectively handle SSL protocol errors by verifying the SSL certificate of the server, setting appropriate SSL options, and handling any potential errors that may occur during the SSL handshake process.

$url = 'https://example.com/api';
$options = array(
    'ssl' => array(
        'verify_peer' => true,
        'verify_peer_name' => true,
        'allow_self_signed' => false
    )
);

$context = stream_context_create($options);
$response = file_get_contents($url, false, $context);

if ($response === false) {
    // Handle SSL protocol error
    echo "SSL protocol error occurred";
} else {
    // Process the response data
    echo $response;
}