What are the potential drawbacks of using the sleep function in PHP to introduce a delay in script execution?

Using the sleep function in PHP to introduce a delay in script execution can potentially slow down the overall performance of the script, especially if used excessively or in a loop. This can lead to increased server load and longer response times for users. To mitigate this issue, consider using asynchronous programming techniques or implementing delays in a more efficient manner.

// Example of using usleep instead of sleep for a more precise delay
$delayInSeconds = 2;
usleep($delayInSeconds * 1000000); // Delay for 2 seconds