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The function used in PHP to send an email is the mail() function. This built-in function is designed specifically for sending emails from a script and has a straightforward syntax.

When using the mail() function, you need to provide several parameters: the recipient's email address, the subject of the email, the message body, and optional headers (such as the sender's email address and other additional information). The function handles the process of sending the email through the server's mail transfer agent.

This functionality is essential for many web applications that need to communicate with users, such as sending notifications, password resets, or other types of correspondence.

Options like send_email(), email_send(), and mail_send() do not exist as built-in functions in PHP. These names may sound plausible, but they are not part of the PHP standard library for email handling and would lead to errors if used in code. Thus, the mail() function is the correct and recognized method for sending emails in PHP.