How can var_dump be effectively used in PHP to debug and understand variable structures like $ra?

To effectively debug and understand variable structures like $ra in PHP, you can use var_dump to display the type and value of variables. This can help you identify the structure of complex variables and troubleshoot any issues with their values.

```php
$ra = array('apple', 'banana', 'cherry');
var_dump($ra);
```

This code snippet will output the type and value of the $ra variable, allowing you to see its structure and contents for debugging and understanding purposes.