In what ways can PHP code be refactored to improve readability and maintainability, as suggested in the forum thread?

The forum thread suggests that PHP code can be refactored to improve readability and maintainability by breaking down large functions into smaller, more manageable ones, using meaningful variable names, and organizing code into logical sections. Additionally, utilizing comments to explain complex logic and following coding standards can also enhance the code's readability.

// Original code
function calculateTotalPrice($items) {
    $total = 0;

    foreach ($items as $item) {
        $total += $item['price'] * $item['quantity'];
    }

    return $total;
}

// Refactored code
function calculateTotalPrice($items) {
    $total = 0;

    foreach ($items as $item) {
        $total += calculateItemPrice($item);
    }

    return $total;
}

function calculateItemPrice($item) {
    return $item['price'] * $item['quantity'];
}