How can PHP developers handle data type control in functions/methods to prevent errors and ensure code reliability?

To handle data type control in functions/methods, PHP developers can use type declarations to specify the expected data types for function parameters and return values. This helps prevent errors by ensuring that only the correct data types are passed to the function, improving code reliability and maintainability.

function calculateSum(int $num1, int $num2): int {
    return $num1 + $num2;
}

// Example usage
$result = calculateSum(5, 10);
echo $result; // Output: 15

// This will throw a TypeError as the function expects integers
$result = calculateSum("5", 10);