What are the recommended methods for handling API responses in PHP?

When working with API responses in PHP, it is essential to handle them properly to ensure smooth data processing and error handling. One recommended method is to use the built-in `json_decode()` function to convert the API response into a PHP array or object. Additionally, checking for any errors in the response status code and handling them accordingly is crucial for robust API integration.

// Sample code for handling API response in PHP
$response = file_get_contents('https://api.example.com/data');
$data = json_decode($response, true);

if ($data === null && json_last_error() !== JSON_ERROR_NONE) {
    // Handle JSON decoding error
    die('Error decoding JSON response');
}

if (isset($data['error'])) {
    // Handle API error
    die('API error: ' . $data['error']);
}

// Process the API response data
var_dump($data);