What are the recommended methods for formatting and displaying variable values in PHP, such as using var_dump, print_r, or var_export?

When working with PHP, it's important to properly format and display variable values for debugging purposes. Some recommended methods for this include using var_dump, print_r, or var_export functions. These functions allow you to output the contents of a variable in a structured and readable format, making it easier to understand its value and structure.

// Example of using var_dump to display variable values
$variable = 'Hello, World!';
var_dump($variable);
```

```php
// Example of using print_r to display variable values
$array = array('apple', 'banana', 'cherry');
print_r($array);
```

```php
// Example of using var_export to display variable values
$number = 42;
echo var_export($number, true);