What is the significance of the header function ('Content-Type: image/png') in the PHP code provided?

The header function in PHP is used to send a raw HTTP header to the client. In this case, 'Content-Type: image/png' is specifying that the content being sent is an image in PNG format. This is important because it informs the client's browser how to interpret the data being sent, ensuring that the image is displayed correctly.

<?php
// Set the content type header to specify that the data being sent is an image in PNG format
header('Content-Type: image/png');

// Output the image data
echo file_get_contents('image.png');
?>