How can PHP functions like parse_ini_file() be used to manage configuration settings more efficiently?

Using PHP functions like parse_ini_file() can help manage configuration settings more efficiently by allowing you to store configuration options in a separate file (such as an INI file) rather than hardcoding them in your PHP code. This makes it easier to update and maintain configuration settings without having to modify the code itself. Additionally, parse_ini_file() automatically parses the contents of the configuration file into an associative array, making it simple to access and use the configuration settings in your PHP code.

// Load configuration settings from an INI file
$config = parse_ini_file('config.ini');

// Access specific configuration settings
$databaseHost = $config['database']['host'];
$databaseUsername = $config['database']['username'];
$databasePassword = $config['database']['password'];

// Use the configuration settings in your PHP code
$pdo = new PDO("mysql:host={$databaseHost};dbname=mydatabase", $databaseUsername, $databasePassword);