php var_dump() vs print_r()

Question

What is the difference between var_dump() and print_r() in terms of spitting out an array as string?

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

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.