How can the use of negation in PHP conditional statements impact code readability and maintainability over time?

Using negation in PHP conditional statements can make code harder to read and understand over time, especially as the logic becomes more complex. It can lead to confusion and mistakes when trying to interpret the conditions. To improve readability and maintainability, it's better to use positive conditions whenever possible or refactor the logic to make it clearer. 

// Using positive conditions for better readability
if ($status === 'active') {
    // Code block for when status is active
}

// Refactoring logic for clearer conditions
if ($status !== 'inactive') {
    // Code block for when status is not inactive
}

Keywords

negation PHP conditional statements code readability maintainability

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