How can the json_last_error() function be utilized in PHP to ensure the integrity of JSON data retrieved from an API?

When retrieving JSON data from an API in PHP, it is important to ensure the integrity of the data to avoid potential issues with parsing or processing. The json_last_error() function can be utilized to check for any errors that may have occurred during the decoding process. By checking the return value of json_last_error(), you can handle any potential errors appropriately and ensure that the JSON data is valid before further processing.

// Retrieve JSON data from API
$json_data = file_get_contents('https://api.example.com/data');

// Decode JSON data
$decoded_data = json_decode($json_data);

// Check for JSON decoding errors
if (json_last_error() !== JSON_ERROR_NONE) {
    // Handle error, such as logging or returning an error response
    echo 'Error decoding JSON data: ' . json_last_error_msg();
} else {
    // Process decoded data
    // ...
}