How can debugging tools like Firebug be utilized to troubleshoot PHP code that affects HTML output?

To troubleshoot PHP code that affects HTML output using debugging tools like Firebug, you can inspect the generated HTML code to identify any issues with the PHP variables or functions. By using Firebug's console or network tab, you can see if the PHP code is producing the desired output or if there are any errors being thrown. Additionally, you can use Firebug to set breakpoints in your PHP code and step through it line by line to pinpoint the issue.

<?php
// PHP code that may be affecting HTML output
$variable = "Hello World";
echo "<p>$variable</p>";
?>