In what scenarios would it be more efficient to use PHP to reload a page based on database changes compared to other technologies or methods?

In scenarios where real-time updates are needed based on database changes, using PHP to reload a page can be efficient. This is especially useful for applications where users need to see immediate changes without manually refreshing the page. By using PHP to continuously check for database updates and reload the page when changes occur, users can stay up-to-date with the latest information.

<?php
$last_updated = 0; // Initialize a variable to store the last update timestamp

while(true) {
    // Check the database for any changes since the last update
    $current_updated = // Query to get the latest update timestamp from the database

    if($current_updated > $last_updated) {
        // Reload the page if there are new changes in the database
        header("Location: {$_SERVER['REQUEST_URI']}");
        exit();
    }

    // Update the last updated timestamp
    $last_updated = $current_updated;

    // Wait for a certain period of time before checking again
    sleep(5); // Check every 5 seconds
}
?>