What are the implications of using global variables within PHP functions and how can they impact the overall functionality of the code?

Using global variables within PHP functions can lead to code that is harder to maintain and debug, as it can introduce unexpected side effects and make it difficult to track where the variable is being modified. It's generally recommended to avoid using global variables within functions and instead pass variables as parameters or use return values to maintain a clear flow of data within the code. 

// Avoid using global variables within functions by passing variables as parameters

$globalVariable = 10;

function myFunction($param) {
    // Use $param instead of $globalVariable within the function
    return $param * 2;
}

$result = myFunction($globalVariable);
echo $result; // Output: 20

Keywords

global variables PHP functions code functionality implications impact

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