What are the advantages of using is_array() function in PHP programming?

When working with arrays in PHP, it is important to verify whether a variable is an array or not before performing array-specific operations to avoid errors. The `is_array()` function in PHP is used to check if a variable is an array. By using `is_array()`, you can ensure that the variable is indeed an array before proceeding with array-related operations, thus preventing unexpected behavior or errors in your code.

// Check if a variable is an array before performing array operations
$myArray = [1, 2, 3];

if (is_array($myArray)) {
    // Perform array operations
    foreach ($myArray as $value) {
        echo $value . " ";
    }
} else {
    echo "The variable is not an array.";
}