What is the significance of the unlink function in PHP and how can it be used effectively?

The unlink function in PHP is used to delete a file from the server. It is significant for managing file operations and freeing up disk space. To use it effectively, make sure to provide the correct file path and handle any errors that may occur during the deletion process.

$file_path = 'path/to/file.txt';

if (file_exists($file_path)) {
    if (unlink($file_path)) {
        echo 'File deleted successfully.';
    } else {
        echo 'Unable to delete file.';
    }
} else {
    echo 'File does not exist.';
}