What are the advantages of using external CSS files over inline styles in PHP development?

When developing websites in PHP, it is advantageous to use external CSS files over inline styles for several reasons. External CSS files allow for better organization and maintainability of styles, as all styles are consolidated in one central location. Additionally, external CSS files can be cached by the browser, leading to faster load times for subsequent page visits. Lastly, using external CSS files promotes reusability of styles across multiple pages, resulting in a more consistent and cohesive design.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="styles.css">
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Welcome to my website</h1>
    <p>This is a paragraph with external CSS styles applied.</p>
</body>
</html>