What is the correct placement of session_start() in a PHP script?

The session_start() function in PHP should be placed at the very beginning of the script, before any output is sent to the browser. This is because session_start() initializes a session or resumes the current one, and should be called before any session variables are accessed or set. Placing session_start() at the beginning ensures that the session is properly started before any session data is manipulated.

<?php
session_start();

// rest of the PHP code goes here
?>