What are the implications of not properly handling return statements in PHP functions, especially in the context of including files and generating content?

If return statements are not properly handled in PHP functions, it can lead to unexpected behavior or errors in the code. This is especially important when including files or generating content, as the return value of a function may be crucial for further processing. To solve this issue, always make sure to properly handle return statements in functions and ensure that the correct data is being returned.

function getContent() {
    // Generate content here
    $content = "This is the generated content";
    
    return $content;
}

// Call the function and use the returned value
$generatedContent = getContent();
echo $generatedContent;