What are the best practices for handling output delays or pauses in PHP, and how can issues with buffering be addressed effectively?

When dealing with output delays or pauses in PHP, one of the best practices is to use the `ob_flush()` and `flush()` functions to send any output that may be buffered. This can help to ensure that content is displayed to the user in a timely manner. Additionally, setting the `output_buffering` directive to `Off` in the php.ini file can help to prevent buffering-related delays.

// Flush output buffer
ob_flush();
flush();