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# var_dump

(PHP 3 >= 3.0.5, PHP 4, PHP 5)

var_dump -- Dumps information about a variable

## Description

void var_dump ( mixed expression [, mixed expression [, ...]] )

This function displays structured information about one or more expressions that includes its type and value. Arrays and objects are explored recursively with values indented to show structure.

In PHP 5 all public, private and protected properties of objects will be returned in the output.

> Tip: As with anything that outputs its result directly to the browser, you can use the output-control functions to capture the output of this function, and save it in a string (for example).

## Parameters

expression

  The variable you want to export.

## Return Values

No value is returned.

## Examples

Example 1. var_dump() example

`<?php $a = array(1, 2, array("a", "b", "c")); var_dump($a); ?>`

The above example will output:

    array(3) {
      [0]=>
      int(1)
      [1]=>
      int(2)
      [2]=>
      array(3) {
        [0]=>
        string(1) "a"
        [1]=>
        string(1) "b"
        [2]=>
        string(1) "c"
      }
    }

`<?php $b = 3.1; $c = true; var_dump($b, $c); ?>`

The above example will output:

    float(3.1)
    bool(true)

## See Also

var_export()
print_r()

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