What steps should be taken in a PHP application's bootstrap process to ensure the proper registration and utilization of an autoloader for efficient class loading and namespace resolution?

To ensure efficient class loading and namespace resolution in a PHP application, it is important to register an autoloader in the bootstrap process. This autoloader will automatically load classes as they are needed, eliminating the need to manually include each class file. By following best practices for autoloading, such as using PSR-4 standards, you can streamline the loading process and improve the overall performance of your application. 

// Bootstrap file

// Register the autoloader
spl_autoload_register(function($class) {
    // Convert namespace separators to directory separators
    $file = str_replace('\\', '/', $class) . '.php';
    
    // Load the class file if it exists
    if (file_exists($file)) {
        require_once $file;
    }
});

// Other bootstrap code here

Keywords

PHP autoloader class loading namespace resolution bootstrap process

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