What are the advantages and disadvantages of using var_dump() for debugging date-related issues in PHP code?

When debugging date-related issues in PHP code, using var_dump() can be helpful in displaying the values of variables containing date information. This can aid in identifying any discrepancies or errors in the date format or calculations. However, var_dump() can produce a large amount of output that may be difficult to parse, especially when dealing with complex date structures. Additionally, var_dump() does not provide a formatted view of the date values, making it less user-friendly for quickly identifying issues.

// Example PHP code snippet using var_dump() for debugging date-related issues
$date = '2022-05-15';
$timestamp = strtotime($date);

var_dump($date, $timestamp);