What are some best practices for implementing chat functionality in PHP to ensure a smooth user experience?

Issue: To ensure a smooth user experience when implementing chat functionality in PHP, it is important to consider factors such as real-time updates, message delivery, and user authentication. Code snippet:

// Ensure real-time updates using AJAX polling or WebSockets
// Implement message delivery with a database to store and retrieve messages
// Use user authentication to verify users and protect chat data