How can the differences in PHP versions between local and web servers impact the execution of PHP scripts and what steps can be taken to address these discrepancies?

Differences in PHP versions between local and web servers can impact the execution of PHP scripts by causing compatibility issues with certain functions or syntax that may have changed between versions. To address these discrepancies, it is important to ensure that the PHP version used locally matches the version on the web server. Additionally, using version control systems like Git can help manage code changes across different environments.

// Check PHP version before executing script
if (version_compare(phpversion(), '7.0.0', '<')) {
    die('PHP version 7.0.0 or higher is required');
}