How does the date_default_timezone_set() function work in PHP scripts?

The date_default_timezone_set() function in PHP is used to set the default timezone used by all date/time functions in a script. This function should be called at the beginning of the script to ensure consistent handling of dates and times throughout the application. By setting the default timezone, you can avoid unexpected behavior or errors when working with date and time functions.

// Set the default timezone to UTC
date_default_timezone_set('UTC');