When should exit() be used in PHP scripts?

The exit() function in PHP should be used when you want to immediately terminate the script execution. This can be useful in situations where you need to stop the script from running further, for example, after encountering an error or when a certain condition is met. It's important to note that using exit() will stop the script abruptly and may not allow for proper cleanup or error handling.

// Example of using exit() to terminate script execution
$error = true;

if ($error) {
    echo "An error occurred. Exiting script.";
    exit();
}

// Code here will not be executed if $error is true
echo "This will not be displayed.";