How can debugging techniques like checking the produced JSON output help in identifying and resolving issues with array encoding in PHP?

When dealing with array encoding issues in PHP, checking the produced JSON output can help identify where the problem lies. By examining the JSON output, you can see if the array is encoded correctly and if there are any unexpected characters or formatting issues. This can guide you in resolving the problem by adjusting the way the array is encoded or formatted before converting it to JSON.

// Sample array with encoding issue
$array = array("apple", "banana", "cherry");

// Encode the array to JSON
$json_output = json_encode($array);

// Check the JSON output for any issues
var_dump($json_output);