In what situations would using var_dump() be beneficial for debugging PHP code, and how can it help identify issues with variable values?

Using var_dump() can be beneficial for debugging PHP code when you need to inspect the value and type of a variable at a specific point in your code. It can help identify issues with variable values by displaying the variable's contents, data type, and length. This can be especially useful when troubleshooting unexpected behavior or errors related to variable manipulation.

// Example of using var_dump() to debug variable values
$variable = "Hello World";
var_dump($variable);