How can PHP developers ensure proper error handling when replacing variables in a text file using file_get_contents()?

When replacing variables in a text file using file_get_contents(), PHP developers should ensure proper error handling by checking if the file exists before attempting to read it. This can prevent errors from occurring if the file is not found or if there are permission issues. Additionally, developers should handle any potential errors that may occur during the replacement process, such as if the variables are not found in the file.

$file_path = 'example.txt';

if (file_exists($file_path)) {
    $file_contents = file_get_contents($file_path);

    // Perform variable replacement in $file_contents

    if ($file_contents === false) {
        // Handle error if file_get_contents() fails
    }

    // Write the modified contents back to the file
    if (file_put_contents($file_path, $file_contents) === false) {
        // Handle error if file_put_contents() fails
    }
} else {
    // Handle error if file does not exist
}