What debugging tools can be used to identify errors in PHP code, especially when modifying existing plugins?

When modifying existing plugins in PHP, it can be challenging to identify errors that may arise. One effective way to debug PHP code is by using tools like Xdebug, which allows for step-by-step debugging, variable inspection, and stack tracing. Another useful tool is PHP's built-in error_reporting function, which can be set to display errors and warnings in the code. Additionally, using the var_dump function to print out variable values can help pinpoint where issues are occurring.

<?php
// Enable error reporting
error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set('display_errors', 1);

// Code snippet with var_dump for debugging
$variable = "Hello World";
var_dump($variable);