In the provided PHP code, why is it recommended to return the array or use the GLOBAL keyword for variable scope management?

In the provided PHP code, using the GLOBAL keyword or returning the array allows for better variable scope management. This ensures that the variables are accessible within the function without causing conflicts with variables of the same name outside of the function. By using the GLOBAL keyword or returning the array, we can explicitly define the scope of the variables and prevent unintended side effects.

// Original code snippet
function get_data() {
    global $data;
    return $data;
}
```

```php
// Fixed code snippet using the GLOBAL keyword
$data = [1, 2, 3];

function get_data() {
    global $data;
    return $data;
}

var_dump(get_data());