What are the best practices for improving a beginner's learning curve in PHP when implementing functions like play() for audio elements?

When implementing functions like play() for audio elements in PHP, beginners can improve their learning curve by utilizing the built-in PHP functions for handling audio files. One approach is to use the PHP Audio File library, such as PHP-Audio, which provides a simple interface for working with audio files. By following PHP best practices, such as organizing code into reusable functions and classes, beginners can efficiently manage audio playback in their PHP applications.

```php
<?php

// Example code snippet for playing an audio file using PHP
function playAudio($audioFile) {
    echo '<audio controls>';
    echo '<source src="' . $audioFile . '" type="audio/mpeg">';
    echo 'Your browser does not support the audio tag.';
    echo '</audio>';
}

// Usage
$audioFile = 'audio.mp3';
playAudio($audioFile);

?>