var_dump is a PHP function that accesses and returns the current value of a variable. This is useful to use for logging purposes or when you are debugging PHP code and want to know the value of a variable at a specific point. In addition to normal variables, var_dump can produce the values of an entire array or object. You can use PHP’s output control functions to change how the var_dump output is handled.
Instructions
- Open the PHP file in a text editor such as Windows Notepad.
- insert the var_dump function into the PHP file, using the format “var_dump (var);”, where “var” is a pre-existing variable with a value. For example, “$ n = 2; var_dump ($ n);” outputs “int (2)”. Make sure that all PHP code is located within the “<? Php” and “>” tags.
- Add the desired PHP output control functions to change how the var_dump output function is handled. A common use is to call the ob_start function to allow output buffering, call var_dump, and use ob_get_contents to save the var_dump output to a string instead of displaying it on your web browser. For example, “ob_start (); var_dump ($ n); $ str = ob_get_contents (); ob_end_clean ();”. The ob_end_clean function is required in order to disable the output buffer.
- Save the PHP file, close the text editor and upload the PHP file to the server to make sure it works correctly.
