`dump()` is a debugging helper that mimics the output of `var_dump()` wrapped in `<pre/>` and then returned as a string. I made the function because I hate that var_dump() echoes directly and may consume the overall page style. This gives me the good old var_dump() which I can then pass directly into my logging mechanisms, or even pass to backed…

dump.php

<?php

/**
 * Returns a string containing var_dump() for each argument wrapped in a <pre>
 * 
 * @author joltmode
 * @return string
 */ 
function dump()
{
    $arguments = func_get_args();

    ob_start();
    foreach ($arguments as $argument) var_dump( $argument );

    return '<pre>' . ob_get_clean() . '</pre>';
}