What are the differences in functionality and reliability between testing PayPal scripts in a sandbox environment versus live online mode, and how can developers ensure consistent results?

When testing PayPal scripts in a sandbox environment, developers can simulate transactions without affecting real financial data. However, the functionality and reliability may differ from the live online mode due to various factors such as network latency and server configurations. To ensure consistent results, developers should thoroughly test their scripts in both environments and make necessary adjustments to account for any discrepancies.

// Set PayPal API endpoint based on environment
if ($sandbox_mode) {
    $paypal_endpoint = 'https://api.sandbox.paypal.com';
} else {
    $paypal_endpoint = 'https://api.paypal.com';
}

// Make API calls using the appropriate endpoint
// Example:
$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $paypal_endpoint);
// Add additional curl options as needed
$response = curl_exec($ch);
curl_close($ch);