How can the use of bitwise operators in PHP impact code readability and maintainability?

Using bitwise operators in PHP can make code less readable and maintainable for developers who are not familiar with these operators. To improve readability and maintainability, it is recommended to use more descriptive and explicit logic in the code, even if it results in slightly longer code.

// Using bitwise operators
$permissions = 4; // Read permission
if ($permissions & 4) {
    echo "User has read permission";
}

// Improved readability
$readPermission = true;
if ($readPermission) {
    echo "User has read permission";
}