How does using var_dump() for debug outputs in PHP differ from using echo for debugging purposes?

When debugging in PHP, using var_dump() provides more detailed information about variables, arrays, and objects compared to echo. Var_dump() displays the data type and value of a variable, making it easier to identify issues with variable values. This can be especially useful when dealing with complex data structures or debugging code.

// Using var_dump() for debug outputs
$variable = "Hello World";
var_dump($variable);