What role do code tags play in improving the readability and debugging process of PHP scripts in a forum setting?

Code tags play a crucial role in improving the readability and debugging process of PHP scripts in a forum setting by clearly separating the code from the rest of the text, making it easier for other users to identify and understand the code snippet. It also helps preserve the formatting of the code, ensuring that it is displayed correctly with proper indentation and syntax highlighting. Additionally, code tags make it easier for users to copy and paste the code into their own development environment for testing and debugging purposes.

<?php
// Example PHP code snippet
$variable = "Hello, World!";
echo $variable;
?>