How can thorough testing and debugging help prevent parse errors in PHP code?

Thorough testing and debugging can help prevent parse errors in PHP code by identifying syntax errors, missing semicolons, misplaced brackets, and other common mistakes before the code is executed. By carefully reviewing the code and running it through a debugger, developers can catch and fix these errors early on, ensuring that the code is free of parse errors when it is executed.

<?php

// Example PHP code with a missing semicolon causing a parse error
$name = "John"
echo "Hello, $name!";

?>