How can the implementation of proper error handling techniques improve the reliability of PHP functions that return values?

Proper error handling techniques can improve the reliability of PHP functions that return values by catching and handling any potential errors or exceptions that may occur during the execution of the function. This ensures that the function returns a valid result, even in the presence of unexpected issues. By implementing error handling, developers can provide more robust and stable functions that are less likely to fail unpredictably.

function divide($numerator, $denominator) {
    if ($denominator == 0) {
        throw new Exception("Division by zero is not allowed.");
    }
    
    return $numerator / $denominator;
}

try {
    $result = divide(10, 0);
    echo "Result: " . $result;
} catch (Exception $e) {
    echo "Error: " . $e->getMessage();
}