How can setting up a test server at home improve the development and testing process for PHP scripts?

Setting up a test server at home can improve the development and testing process for PHP scripts by allowing developers to test their code in a controlled environment before deploying it to a live server. This helps identify and fix any bugs or issues early on, leading to more stable and reliable scripts. Additionally, having a test server enables developers to experiment with new features or changes without impacting the production environment.

// Sample PHP code snippet for connecting to a test database on a local server

$servername = "localhost";
$username = "root";
$password = "";
$dbname = "test_db";

// Create connection
$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

// Check connection
if ($conn->connect_error) {
    die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error);
}
echo "Connected successfully";