What alternative methods or tools can be used to debug PHP code effectively without causing issues with browser output?

When debugging PHP code, it's important to avoid directly outputting debug information to the browser as it can interfere with the page layout and functionality. Instead, using tools like var_dump(), print_r(), or logging functions can help effectively debug code without affecting the browser output.

// Example of using var_dump() to debug PHP code without causing issues with browser output
$variable = "Hello, World!";
var_dump($variable);