How can using the "@" symbol before a function call in PHP affect error handling and debugging?

Using the "@" symbol before a function call in PHP suppresses any errors or warnings that may be generated by that function. While this can be useful in certain situations to prevent error messages from being displayed to the user, it can also make debugging more difficult as errors are not being reported. To effectively handle errors and debug code, it's best to avoid using the "@" symbol and instead implement proper error handling mechanisms.

// Avoid using "@" symbol before function calls for better error handling and debugging
$result = myFunction(); // This will display any errors or warnings from myFunction

// Implement proper error handling
$result = myFunction();
if ($result === false) {
    // Handle the error, log it, or display a message to the user
}