What are the advantages of using INI files for configuration settings in PHP applications, as opposed to manually loading settings with PHP scripts?

Using INI files for configuration settings in PHP applications provides a more organized and structured way to store settings separately from the code. This makes it easier to manage and update configuration options without needing to modify PHP scripts. Additionally, INI files can be easily parsed and loaded into PHP using built-in functions, simplifying the process of accessing configuration settings within the application.

// Load configuration settings from an INI file
$config = parse_ini_file('config.ini');

// Access specific settings
$databaseHost = $config['database']['host'];
$databaseUser = $config['database']['user'];
$databasePass = $config['database']['pass'];