What are some best practices for using variables within a PHP class?

When using variables within a PHP class, it is best practice to declare them as private or protected to encapsulate them and prevent direct access from outside the class. Additionally, you can use getter and setter methods to control access to these variables and ensure data integrity. This approach follows the principles of object-oriented programming and helps maintain code readability and organization.

class MyClass {
    private $myVariable;

    public function getMyVariable() {
        return $this->myVariable;
    }

    public function setMyVariable($value) {
        $this->myVariable = $value;
    }
}