How can PHP developers efficiently extend and modify data records stored in a text file without complicating the existing script?

When extending or modifying data records stored in a text file, PHP developers can efficiently achieve this by reading the file into an array, making the necessary changes to the array, and then writing the array back to the file. This approach allows for easy manipulation of the data records without complicating the existing script.

// Read the contents of the text file into an array
$data = file('data.txt', FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES);

// Make changes to the data array as needed
foreach ($data as &$record) {
    // Modify or extend each record as required
}

// Write the modified data array back to the text file
file_put_contents('data.txt', implode("\n", $data));