How can PHP developers ensure proper image output when using functions like imagejpeg() for thumbnail generation?

When using functions like imagejpeg() for thumbnail generation in PHP, developers should ensure that the output buffer is cleared before generating the image to prevent any unwanted text or characters from being included in the image file. This can be achieved by using ob_clean() or ob_end_clean() before generating the image.

// Clear the output buffer before generating the image
ob_clean();

// Generate the thumbnail image using imagejpeg()
imagejpeg($thumbnailImage, 'path/to/thumbnail.jpg');

// Output the image to the browser
header('Content-Type: image/jpeg');
readfile('path/to/thumbnail.jpg');