How does the rawurlencode() function in PHP help with encoding special characters for URL parameters?

Special characters in URL parameters can cause issues with the URL structure and potentially break the functionality of the web application. The rawurlencode() function in PHP helps encode special characters in a URL parameter, ensuring that the URL remains valid and the data is properly interpreted by the server.

$param = "special characters: &/?=";
$encoded_param = rawurlencode($param);
echo "Encoded parameter: " . $encoded_param;