What best practices should be followed when configuring directory paths in the include_path variable in PHP applications to avoid errors and ensure proper functionality?

When configuring directory paths in the include_path variable in PHP applications, it is important to use absolute paths instead of relative paths to avoid errors and ensure proper functionality. Absolute paths provide a clear and unambiguous reference to the location of the files being included, making it easier for PHP to find and load them correctly.

// Set the include_path variable with absolute paths
set_include_path(get_include_path() . PATH_SEPARATOR . '/path/to/your/includes');