How can the use of functions in PHP improve the readability and maintainability of code, especially in the context of forum development?

Using functions in PHP can improve the readability and maintainability of code in forum development by breaking down complex tasks into smaller, reusable chunks. This makes the code easier to understand, debug, and modify in the future. Functions also promote code reusability, reducing duplication and making it easier to make updates across the forum.

// Example code snippet using functions in PHP for forum development

// Function to retrieve all posts for a specific user
function get_user_posts($user_id) {
    // Database query to fetch posts by user_id
    // Return the fetched posts
}

// Function to display a single post
function display_post($post) {
    // Display post content, author, date, etc.
}

// Example usage of the functions
$user_id = 1;
$user_posts = get_user_posts($user_id);

foreach ($user_posts as $post) {
    display_post($post);
}