How important is it for PHP developers to have a solid understanding of the language's fundamentals before implementing custom functionalities?

It is crucial for PHP developers to have a solid understanding of the language's fundamentals before implementing custom functionalities to ensure efficient and effective code. Without a strong grasp of PHP basics, developers may encounter errors, security vulnerabilities, or performance issues in their custom functionalities. By mastering the fundamentals, developers can write cleaner, more maintainable code that adheres to best practices.

<?php
// Example of implementing a custom functionality with a solid understanding of PHP fundamentals

// Define a function to calculate the sum of two numbers
function calculateSum($num1, $num2) {
    return $num1 + $num2;
}

// Call the function and output the result
$number1 = 5;
$number2 = 10;
$result = calculateSum($number1, $number2);
echo "The sum of $number1 and $number2 is: $result";
?>