What are best practices for defining variable names in PHP?

When defining variable names in PHP, it is important to use clear, descriptive names that accurately represent the data they hold. Variable names should be written in camelCase, starting with a lowercase letter, and should be concise but meaningful. Avoid using abbreviations or overly generic names that may be confusing to other developers.

// Good variable naming practices
$firstName = "John";
$lastName = "Doe";
$userAge = 30;

// Avoid using generic names or abbreviations
$fname = "John"; // Not recommended
$lname = "Doe"; // Not recommended
$ua = 30; // Not recommended