What best practices should be followed when naming variables in PHP scripts?

When naming variables in PHP scripts, it is important to follow best practices to ensure code readability and maintainability. Variables should have descriptive names that clearly indicate their purpose and should follow a consistent naming convention, such as camelCase or snake_case. Avoid using abbreviations or overly generic names that may be confusing. Additionally, variables should not start with numbers or special characters. Example:

// Good variable naming practice
$firstName = "John";
$lastName = "Doe";
$userAge = 30;

// Avoid using abbreviations or overly generic names
$fn = "John"; // Avoid
$age = 30; // Avoid

// Variables should not start with numbers or special characters
$1stName = "John"; // Avoid
$#userAge = 30; // Avoid