How can developers effectively use echo() and var_dump() functions in PHP to inspect and compare variables during runtime?

When developers need to inspect and compare variables during runtime in PHP, they can effectively use the echo() and var_dump() functions. The echo() function can be used to print out the value of a variable, while the var_dump() function provides a detailed representation of a variable, including its type and value. By using these functions strategically in their code, developers can easily debug and analyze the values of variables at different points in their program.

// Example code snippet using echo() and var_dump() functions
$variable1 = "Hello";
$variable2 = 123;

echo "Value of variable1: " . $variable1; // Output: Value of variable1: Hello
echo "<br>";
echo "Value of variable2: " . $variable2; // Output: Value of variable2: 123
echo "<br>";

var_dump($variable1); // Output: string(5) "Hello"
echo "<br>";
var_dump($variable2); // Output: int(123)