What are alternative approaches to using a switch structure in PHP for handling multiple variable values, and how do they compare in terms of performance and readability?

When handling multiple variable values in PHP, using a switch structure can become cumbersome and less readable as the number of cases increases. One alternative approach is to use an associative array to map variable values to corresponding actions or outcomes. This can improve readability and maintainability of the code.

// Using an associative array to handle multiple variable values

$variable = 'value1';

$actions = [
    'value1' => function() {
        // Action for value1
        echo 'Action for value1';
    },
    'value2' => function() {
        // Action for value2
        echo 'Action for value2';
    },
    'value3' => function() {
        // Action for value3
        echo 'Action for value3';
    }
];

if (array_key_exists($variable, $actions)) {
    $actions[$variable]();
} else {
    // Default action
    echo 'Default action';
}