When should PHP developers use str_replace() instead of preg_replace() for string manipulation tasks?

PHP developers should use str_replace() instead of preg_replace() for string manipulation tasks when they are simply looking to replace a specific substring in a string without needing to use regular expressions. str_replace() is faster and less resource-intensive compared to preg_replace() when regular expressions are not necessary. It is ideal for simple string replacements where pattern matching is not needed.

// Using str_replace() to replace a substring in a string
$string = "Hello, World!";
$newString = str_replace("Hello", "Hi", $string);
echo $newString; // Output: Hi, World!