PHP: Debug content of passed variable

gistfile1.aw

/**
 * Dumps the content of passed variable and returns the result.
 *
 * @param  mixed   $var        The variable
 * @param  string  $label      Additional text to describe the variable
 * @param  bool    $formatted  Flag to return formated information 
 * return  string
 */
function mp_dumpVar($var, $label = '', $formatted = true) {
    $dump = ($label !== '') ? $label . ":\n" : '';
    if (is_object($var) || is_array($var)) {
        $dump .= print_r($var, true);
    } elseif (is_bool($var)) {
        $dump .= ($var == true) ? '(bool) true' : '(bool) false';
    } elseif (is_null($var)) {
        $dump .= '(is_null)';
    } elseif (is_string($var) && empty($var)) {
        $dump .= '(is_empty)';
    } else {
        $dump .= $var;
    }
    if ($formatted) {
        return '<pre>' . $dump . '</pre>';
    } else {
        return $dump;
    }
}


################################################################################
## Example

$foobar = null;
echo mp_dumpVar($foobar, '$foobar');

echo mp_dumpVar($_SERVER, '$_SERVER');

class Person {
    protected $_firstname;
    protected $_lastname;
    public function __construct($firstname, $lastname) {
        $this->_firstname = $firstname;
        $this->_lastname = $lastname;
    }
}

$johnDoe = new Person('John', 'Doe');
echo mp_dumpVar($johnDoe, '$johnDoe');