Prints human-readable information about a variable
Syntax
print_r(mixed $value, bool $return = false): string|bool
Parameters
valueThe expression to be printed.
returnIf you would like to capture the output of print_r(), use the return parameter. When this parameter is set to true, print_r() will return the information rather than print it.
Return
If given a string, int or float, the value itself will be printed. If given an array, values will be presented in a format that shows keys and elements. Similar notation is used for objects.
When the return parameter is true, this function will return a string. Otherwise, the return value is true.
Examples
1 · value · bool
<? $value = false; print_r($value); ?>
2 · value · int
<? $value = 0; print_r($value); ?>
0
3 · value · float
<? $value = 0.0; print_r($value); ?>
0
4 · value · string
<? $value = "0"; print_r($value); ?>
0
5 · value · array
<? $value = array(0, 1, array(0, 1)); print_r($value); ?>
Array
(
[0] => 0
[1] => 1
[2] => Array
(
[0] => 0
[1] => 1
)
)
6 · value · object · standard class
<? $value = new stdclass; $value->var = 0; print_r($value); ?>
stdClass Object
(
[var] => 0
)
7 · value · object · custom class
<?
class myclass
{
public $var;
}
$value = new myclass;
$value->var = 0;
print_r($value);
?>myclass Object
(
[var] => 0
)
8 · return · false
<?
class myclass
{
public $var;
}
$value = new myclass;
$value->var = 0;
$return = false;
$output = print_r($value, $return);
echo "output: " . PHP_EOL;
var_export($output);
?>myclass Object
(
[var] => 0
)
output:
true9 · return · true
<?
class myclass
{
public $var;
}
$value = new myclass;
$value->var = 0;
$return = true;
$output = print_r($value, $return);
echo "output: " . PHP_EOL . $output;
?>output:
myclass Object
(
[var] => 0
)
