Using print_r() and var_dump() to Print Arrays in PHP

PHP provides two main functions for printing arrays: print_r() and var_dump().

The print_r() function prints a variable in a human‑readable format, making the output easier to understand.

The var_dump() function outputs detailed information about a variable, including its type and value. When applied to arrays, it recursively expands the values and displays the structure with indentation.

print_r() Function

Example:

<?php
$arr_test = array(1, 2, 3);
print_r($arr_test);
?>

Output of the example:

Array
(
    [0] => 1
    [1] => 2
    [2] => 3
)

var_dump() Function

Example:

<?php
$arr_test = array(1, 2, 3);
var_dump($arr_test);
?>

Output of the example:

array(3) {
  [0]=> int(1)
  [1]=> int(2)
  [2]=> int(3)
}