What is the significance of using trim() in PHP when handling string data, and how can it prevent misinterpretation of empty values?

When handling string data in PHP, using the trim() function is significant as it removes any whitespace characters from the beginning and end of a string. This is important because it helps prevent misinterpretation of empty values, especially when comparing or validating user input. By trimming the input, you ensure that there are no unwanted spaces that could affect the logic of your code.

// Example of using trim() to handle string data and prevent misinterpretation of empty values

$input = "   Hello World   ";
$trimmedInput = trim($input);

if(empty($trimmedInput)){
    echo "Input is empty";
} else {
    echo "Trimmed input: " . $trimmedInput;
}