How important is it to consider scalability when designing a PHP-based CMS?

It is crucial to consider scalability when designing a PHP-based CMS to ensure that the system can handle a growing amount of content and users without experiencing performance issues. One way to address scalability is to optimize database queries, use caching mechanisms, and implement a modular architecture that allows for easy expansion. By following best practices for scalability, you can future-proof your CMS and support its growth over time.

// Example of optimizing a database query in PHP
$query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE status = 'active' LIMIT 10";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $query);

// Use caching mechanism to store query results
if ($result) {
    $cached_data = serialize($result);
    file_put_contents('cached_data.txt', $cached_data);
} else {
    // Handle error
}