What are the potential pitfalls of using exit() in PHP scripts?

Using exit() in PHP scripts can abruptly terminate the script, potentially causing unexpected behavior or leaving tasks unfinished. It is generally considered a bad practice as it can make debugging and maintenance more difficult. Instead of using exit(), consider using return to gracefully exit a function or method, or properly handle errors and exceptions.

// Bad practice using exit()
if ($condition) {
    echo "Condition met.";
    exit();
}

// Better practice using return
function checkCondition($condition) {
    if ($condition) {
        echo "Condition met.";
        return;
    }
}