How can PHP developers ensure that variables are properly defined and set before using them in their code?

To ensure that variables are properly defined and set before using them in PHP code, developers can use isset() or empty() functions to check if a variable has been defined and contains a non-null value. This helps prevent errors such as undefined variable notices or unexpected behavior in the code.

if(isset($variable_name) && !empty($variable_name)){
    // variable is properly defined and set, safe to use
    // your code here
} else {
    // handle the case where the variable is not properly defined or set
}