How can the use of PHP tags affect the execution and readability of code?

Using PHP tags improperly can affect the execution and readability of code. It is important to ensure that PHP opening and closing tags are used correctly to avoid syntax errors and unexpected behavior. To improve readability, it is recommended to use short tags sparingly and opt for the full `<?php ?>` tags instead.

&lt;?php
// Correctly using PHP tags
echo &quot;Hello, World!&quot;;
?&gt;