What best practice should the user follow to ensure the function outputs the desired results?

To ensure the function outputs the desired results, the user should make sure to pass the correct parameters to the function. This includes verifying the data type and format of the input values, as well as handling any potential errors or edge cases that may arise during the execution of the function.

function calculate_sum($num1, $num2) {
    if (!is_numeric($num1) || !is_numeric($num2)) {
        return "Error: Both parameters must be numeric.";
    }
    
    return $num1 + $num2;
}

// Example usage
echo calculate_sum(5, 10); // Output: 15
echo calculate_sum("5", 10); // Output: 15
echo calculate_sum("hello", 10); // Output: Error: Both parameters must be numeric.