In what situations is it recommended to use var_dump or print_r instead of creating variables from arrays in PHP?

When you need to quickly inspect the contents of an array in PHP without creating variables, it is recommended to use var_dump or print_r functions. These functions will output the structure and values of the array directly to the screen, making it easier to debug and understand the data.

$array = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];

// Using var_dump to inspect the array
var_dump($array);

// Using print_r to inspect the array
print_r($array);