php var_dump() vs print_r()
The var_dump
function displays structured information about variables/expressions including its type and value. Arrays are explored recursively with values indented to show structure. It also shows which array values and object properties are references.
The print_r()
displays information about a variable in a way that's readable by humans. array values will be presented in a format that shows keys and elements. Similar notation is used for objects.
Example:
$obj = (object) array('qualitypoint', 'technologies', 'India');
var_dump($obj)
will display below output in the screen.
object(stdClass)#1 (3) {
[0]=> string(12) "qualitypoint"
[1]=> string(12) "technologies"
[2]=> string(5) "India"
}
And, print_r($obj)
will display below output in the screen.
stdClass Object (
[0] => qualitypoint
[1] => technologies
[2] => India
)
More Info
- var_dump
- print_r
Generally, print_r( )
output is nicer, more concise and easier to read, aka more human-readable but cannot show data types.
With print_r()
you can also store the output into a variable:
$output = print_r($array, true);
which var_dump()
cannot do. Yet var_dump()
can show data types.
var_dump()
will show you the type of the thing as well as what's in it.
So you'll get => (string)"var"
Example is here.
print_r()
will just output the content.
Would output => "var"
Example is here.