How can returning an array of variables from a function be beneficial in PHP programming?

Returning an array of variables from a function in PHP can be beneficial because it allows you to consolidate multiple values into a single data structure, making it easier to manage and pass around. This can be especially useful when you need to return multiple values from a function without resorting to using global variables or creating a custom data structure. By returning an array, you can easily access and manipulate the values within the array in a structured way.

// Function that returns an array of variables
function getValues() {
    $var1 = 'Value 1';
    $var2 = 'Value 2';
    
    return array($var1, $var2);
}

// Calling the function and storing the returned array
$valuesArray = getValues();

// Accessing the values from the returned array
echo $valuesArray[0]; // Output: Value 1
echo $valuesArray[1]; // Output: Value 2