What is the purpose of using the move_uploaded_file function in PHP for file uploads?

The move_uploaded_file function in PHP is used to move an uploaded file to a new location on the server. This function is important for file uploads as it helps to securely save the uploaded file to a desired directory, preventing any potential security risks such as overwriting existing files or executing malicious scripts.

<?php
$target_dir = "uploads/";
$target_file = $target_dir . basename($_FILES["fileToUpload"]["name"]);

if (move_uploaded_file($_FILES["fileToUpload"]["tmp_name"], $target_file)) {
    echo "The file ". basename( $_FILES["fileToUpload"]["name"]). " has been uploaded.";
} else {
    echo "Sorry, there was an error uploading your file.";
}
?>