What are the potential challenges when using stream_set_blocking() in PHP scripts?

When using stream_set_blocking() in PHP scripts, potential challenges may arise if the function is not used correctly. One common issue is that setting a stream to non-blocking mode may cause unexpected behavior or errors in the script. To avoid this, it is important to carefully consider the implications of changing the blocking mode of a stream and ensure that it is done in a way that does not disrupt the flow of the script.

// Example of setting a stream to non-blocking mode safely
$stream = fopen('example.txt', 'r');
if (!$stream) {
    die('Failed to open stream');
}

// Set stream to non-blocking mode
stream_set_blocking($stream, false);

// Read from the stream
$data = fread($stream, 1024);

// Check for errors
if ($data === false) {
    die('Failed to read from stream');
}

// Close the stream
fclose($stream);