What best practices should be followed when naming variables in PHP to avoid confusion and maintain code clarity?

When naming variables in PHP, it is important to follow certain best practices to avoid confusion and maintain code clarity. Some best practices include using descriptive names that clearly indicate the purpose of the variable, using camelCase or snake_case for naming conventions, avoiding abbreviations or acronyms unless they are widely understood, and being consistent with naming conventions throughout the codebase.

// Example of following best practices for naming variables in PHP

// Descriptive variable names using camelCase
$firstName = "John";
$lastName = "Doe";

// Avoiding abbreviations or acronyms
$userAddress = "123 Main Street";

// Consistent naming conventions
$totalAmount = 100.00;
$taxRate = 0.10;
$finalAmount = $totalAmount + ($totalAmount * $taxRate);