What is the purpose of using socket_set_blocking() in PHP and what potential issues can arise when using it?

The purpose of using socket_set_blocking() in PHP is to control whether a socket should block when reading or writing data. By setting it to non-blocking mode, you can prevent your script from waiting indefinitely for data to be received or sent. However, potential issues can arise when using non-blocking mode, such as needing to handle the socket in a loop to check for data availability.

// Set the socket to non-blocking mode
socket_set_blocking($socket, false);