What steps can be taken to debug a PHP script that is not functioning as expected, despite making changes based on error messages?

To debug a PHP script that is not functioning as expected, despite making changes based on error messages, you can try the following steps: 1. Check for syntax errors or typos in the code. 2. Use print_r() or var_dump() functions to inspect variables and data structures. 3. Enable error reporting and logging to see any hidden errors. 4. Break down the code into smaller parts and test each part separately. Example PHP code snippet:

<?php

// Step 1: Check for syntax errors or typos
// Make sure all variables are correctly spelled and used

// Step 2: Use var_dump() to inspect variables
$variable = "Hello World";
var_dump($variable);

// Step 3: Enable error reporting
error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set('display_errors', 1);

// Step 4: Break down the code into smaller parts
// Test each part separately to identify the issue

?>