What are the best practices for handling PHP version updates in an online shop environment to avoid fatal errors?

When updating PHP versions in an online shop environment, it is crucial to test the compatibility of your code with the new PHP version before making the switch. This can help identify and resolve any potential fatal errors that may arise. Additionally, keeping your PHP codebase up to date with modern coding standards and practices can also help prevent issues when updating PHP versions.

// Example code snippet to check PHP version compatibility
if (version_compare(PHP_VERSION, '7.0.0') < 0) {
    // Handle PHP version error
    echo "Your PHP version is not compatible. Please upgrade to PHP 7.0 or higher.";
    exit;
}