How can the use of require_once() improve the efficiency and reliability of PHP code?

Using require_once() in PHP can improve efficiency and reliability by ensuring that a file is only included once in a script. This prevents issues such as redeclaring functions or classes, which can lead to errors and conflicts in the code. By using require_once(), you can avoid these problems and create more maintainable and organized code.

<?php
require_once('config.php');
require_once('functions.php');

// Rest of the PHP code here
?>