What alternative functions or methods can be used in PHP to achieve similar results without relying on exec()?
Using exec() in PHP can pose security risks if not handled properly, as it allows executing shell commands on the server. To achieve similar results without relying on exec(), you can use alternative functions like shell_exec(), passthru(), or proc_open(). These functions provide similar functionality while offering more control over the command execution.
// Using shell_exec() to achieve similar results without exec()
$output = shell_exec('ls -la');
echo "<pre>$output</pre>";