How can the placement of session_start() impact the functionality of PHP forms?

Placing the session_start() function before any output is sent to the browser is crucial for the proper functioning of PHP forms. If session_start() is placed after any output, it can cause headers already sent errors and prevent the form from working correctly. To solve this issue, ensure that session_start() is the first thing in your PHP code, before any HTML or whitespace.

<?php
session_start();

// Rest of your PHP code for form processing
?>