How can the var_dump() function be used to debug PHP code and identify potential errors in variables?

The var_dump() function in PHP can be used to output the contents of a variable, including its type and value. This can be helpful for debugging code and identifying potential errors in variables such as incorrect data types or unexpected values.

```php
$variable = "Hello, World!";
var_dump($variable);
```

In the code snippet above, the var_dump() function is used to output the contents of the variable $variable, which will display the data type (string) and value ("Hello, World!"). This can help identify any unexpected values or data types that may be causing errors in the code.