How can PHP tags be effectively used in a PHP program to ensure proper functionality?

To ensure proper functionality in a PHP program, it is important to use PHP tags correctly. The opening PHP tag "<?php" should be used at the beginning of a PHP script, and the closing tag "?>" should be used at the end. It is also recommended to avoid mixing PHP code with HTML code within the same set of PHP tags, as this can lead to syntax errors.

&lt;?php
// PHP code goes here
?&gt;