PHP print_r() Function

PHP print_r() Function

The print_r() function in PHP displays the information stored in a variable.

Syntax

print_r (mixed $expression [, bool $return] )

Parameter

expression(required)- This parameter represents the expression to be printed.

return(optional)- This parameter is used to store the output of the print_r() function in a variable rather than printing. It is of boolean type whose default value is FALSE. If this parameter is set to TRUE then the print_r() function will return the output which it is supposed to print.

Return

This function returns the value itself if the specified expression if string, integer or float. If the expression is an array, this function will return the array in a format which displays the keys as well as values.

This function returns the output which it is supposed to print if the “return” parameter is set to TRUE.

Example 1

<?php 
// initializing the expression with string variable 
$exp = "Welcome to TutorialAndExample"; 
// printing the expression 
print_r($exp); //returns the value itself
 ?> 

Output

Welcome to TutorialAndExample 

Example 2

<?php 
// initializing the expression with array 
$arr = array('0' => "Hello", '1' => "TutorialAndExample!", '2' => "Good",'3' => "Job."); 
// printing the expression 
print_r($arr); //returns the array in a format which displays the keys as well as values.
?> 

Output

Array
 (
    [0] => Hello
    [1] => TutorialAndExample!
    [2] => Good
    [3] => Job.
 ) 

Example 3

<pre>
 <?php
 //initializing the expression
 $fruits = array ('Summer Fruits' => array ('Mango', 'Watermelon', 'Lichi'), 'Winter Fruits' => array ('Orange', 'Apple', 'Guava'));//array inside array
 print_r ($fruits);
 ?>
 </pre> 

Output

<pre>
 Array
 (
     [Summer Fruits] => Array
         (
             [0] => Mango
             [1] => Watermelon
             [2] => Lichi
         )
     [Winter Fruits] => Array
         (
             [0] => Orange
             [1] => Apple
             [2] => Guava
         )
 )
 </pre> 

Example 4

<pre>
 <?php
 //initializing the expression
 $fruits = array ('Summer Fruits' => array ('Mango', 'Watermelon', 'Lichi'), 'Winter Fruits' => array ('Orange', 'Apple', 'Guava'));//array inside array
 //passing boolean value true
 print_r ($fruits,true);// will return the information
 ?> 
 </pre> 

Output

<pre>
</pre>