What are some recommended tools or methods for conducting advanced searches within PHP files for specific code patterns?

When working with large PHP codebases, it can be challenging to find specific code patterns within multiple files. One recommended method for conducting advanced searches is to use regular expressions in combination with tools like grep, ack, or IDE search functionalities. These tools allow you to search for specific code patterns within PHP files efficiently.

// Example using grep to search for a specific code pattern within PHP files
$pattern = '/\bexampleFunction\(\)/';
$files = shell_exec('grep -r -l --include=*.php ' . $pattern . ' /path/to/directory');
echo $files;