What are the advantages of using output buffering in PHP functions?

Output buffering in PHP functions can be advantageous in situations where you want to capture the output of a function and manipulate it before displaying it to the user. This can be useful for tasks such as caching, compressing output, or processing data before it is sent to the browser. By using output buffering, you can control when and how output is sent, allowing for more flexibility and efficiency in your code.

<?php

// Start output buffering
ob_start();

// Function that generates output
function generate_output() {
    echo "Hello, World!";
}

// Call the function and capture the output
generate_output();
$output = ob_get_clean();

// Manipulate the output before displaying it
$output = strtoupper($output);

// Display the modified output
echo $output;

?>