How can the issue of providing the encryption key for PHP files while maintaining security be addressed?

Issue: The issue of providing the encryption key for PHP files while maintaining security can be addressed by storing the encryption key in a separate configuration file outside of the web root directory. This way, the key is not accessible to the public and can only be accessed by the PHP script when needed.

// config.php
<?php
$encryption_key = 'your_encryption_key_here';
```

In your PHP file, include the config file and use the encryption key as needed:

```php
// encrypt.php
<?php
include 'config.php';

// Use $encryption_key for encryption operations