How can soundex() be optimized for better performance when processing a large amount of data in PHP?

When processing a large amount of data in PHP using the soundex() function, performance can be optimized by using a more efficient algorithm or by limiting the number of comparisons made. One way to improve performance is by pre-processing the data to reduce the number of soundex() calls needed. Additionally, using a caching mechanism to store previously calculated soundex values can also help speed up the process.

// Example of optimizing soundex() for better performance when processing a large amount of data

// Function to calculate and cache soundex values
function optimizedSoundex($input) {
    static $cache = [];
    
    if (isset($cache[$input])) {
        return $cache[$input];
    }
    
    $soundex = soundex($input);
    $cache[$input] = $soundex;
    
    return $soundex;
}

// Usage example
$input = "example";
$soundexValue = optimizedSoundex($input);
echo $soundexValue;