Should PHP developers rely on the existing file permissions or always set them manually using chmod?

PHP developers should not solely rely on existing file permissions as they may not always be set correctly for security purposes. It is recommended to always set file permissions manually using the chmod function in PHP to ensure that files are properly secured. This practice helps prevent unauthorized access and potential security vulnerabilities in the application.

// Set file permissions manually using chmod
$file = 'example.txt';
$permissions = 0644; // Set appropriate permissions here

if (file_exists($file)) {
    chmod($file, $permissions);
    echo "File permissions have been set successfully.";
} else {
    echo "File does not exist.";
}