What are some best practices for shortening and optimizing PHP code in an existing application?

One way to optimize and shorten PHP code in an existing application is to use shorthand syntax, such as ternary operators, shorthand if statements, and short echo tags. Additionally, you can refactor repetitive code into functions or loops to reduce redundancy and improve readability. Example: Instead of writing a long if-else statement, you can use a ternary operator to shorten the code:

// Long if-else statement
if ($condition) {
    $result = 'Condition is true';
} else {
    $result = 'Condition is false';
}

// Shortened ternary operator
$result = $condition ? 'Condition is true' : 'Condition is false';