How does the inclusion of external files, such as header.php, impact the session management in PHP scripts?

When including external files like header.php in PHP scripts, it can impact session management because the session_start() function should be called before any output is sent to the browser. If the external file contains any output, it can prevent the session from being started properly, leading to session-related issues. To solve this issue, make sure to call session_start() at the beginning of the main PHP script before including any external files that might output content.

<?php
session_start();

// Other PHP code here

include 'header.php';

// Rest of the PHP script
?>