How important is it to validate PHP code using services like the W3C Validation Service, and what potential issues can arise if code is not validated?

Validating PHP code using services like the W3C Validation Service is important because it helps ensure that your code follows best practices and standards. Failure to validate code can lead to compatibility issues across different browsers, devices, and platforms, as well as potential security vulnerabilities.

// Example PHP code snippet using the W3C Validation Service
// Validate HTML output
$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, 'https://validator.w3.org/nu/?doc=' . urlencode($your_html_output));
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
$html_output = curl_exec($ch);
curl_close($ch);

// Display validation results
echo $html_output;