How can debugging techniques like var_dump be used to identify the source of errors in PHP pagination code?

When encountering errors in PHP pagination code, using debugging techniques like var_dump can help identify the source of the issue by displaying the contents of variables at different stages of the code execution. By inspecting the output of var_dump, you can pinpoint where the error occurs, such as incorrect variable values or unexpected data types. This information can guide you in making necessary adjustments to the pagination code for it to function correctly.

// Example of using var_dump for debugging pagination code
$items_per_page = 5;
$current_page = isset($_GET['page']) ? $_GET['page'] : 1;

// Perform pagination logic here

// Debugging using var_dump
var_dump($items_per_page);
var_dump($current_page);