What are the differences between using relative and absolute paths for file references in PHP applications?

Using relative paths for file references in PHP applications can lead to issues when the current working directory changes, making it harder to locate the files. Absolute paths, on the other hand, provide a fixed reference to the file location regardless of the current working directory, ensuring consistent file access. It is recommended to use absolute paths for file references in PHP applications to avoid potential issues with file access.

// Using absolute path for file reference
$file = '/path/to/file.txt';
$file_contents = file_get_contents($file);