How can the use of str_replace() in PHP for data manipulation affect the readability and maintainability of the code?

Using str_replace() for data manipulation in PHP can affect the readability and maintainability of the code because it can make the code harder to understand and follow, especially when multiple replacements are needed. To improve readability and maintainability, it is recommended to use a more structured approach, such as using arrays or regular expressions for data manipulation.

// Using arrays for data manipulation instead of str_replace()

$data = "Hello, World!";
$replacements = array(
    "Hello" => "Hi",
    "World" => "Universe"
);

$new_data = strtr($data, $replacements);

echo $new_data; // Output: Hi, Universe!