How can PHP developers effectively debug code that is causing unexpected errors?

To effectively debug code causing unexpected errors, PHP developers can use tools like var_dump() or print_r() to print out the values of variables at different points in the code to identify where the issue may be occurring. They can also use error reporting functions like error_reporting(E_ALL) and ini_set('display_errors', 1) to display any errors or warnings that may be occurring. Additionally, using a debugger tool like Xdebug can help step through the code line by line to pinpoint the exact location of the error.

// Enable error reporting to display any errors or warnings
error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set('display_errors', 1);

// Use var_dump() or print_r() to print out variable values for debugging
var_dump($variable);

// Utilize Xdebug to step through code and identify the location of the error