In what situations should HTML elements be omitted from PHP code, and how does this practice contribute to cleaner and more efficient coding practices?

HTML elements should be omitted from PHP code when the main purpose of the PHP script is to handle logic and data processing, rather than generating HTML output. Separating PHP logic from HTML presentation helps to maintain cleaner and more efficient code, making it easier to read, debug, and maintain.

<?php
// PHP logic for processing data
$data = "Hello, World!";

// Output the data using echo instead of mixing HTML and PHP
echo $data;
?>