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Variable Inspector
Inspect PHP variables on a central dashboard in wp-admin for convenient debugging.
The facts
- Rating
- 5★ from 5
- Active installs
- 100+
- Price
- Free
- Last updated
- 22 May 2026
- Added
- Apr 2022
- Requires WP
- 4.8
- Tested up to
- WP 7.0.4
- Requires PHP
- 5.6
- Downloads
- 74,828
Our analysis
AI-assistedVariable Inspector is a WordPress plugin designed for developers to inspect PHP variables easily within the wp-admin dashboard. It provides a central location to view variable content formatted with functions like var_dump(), var_export(), and print_r(), making it a straightforward tool for debugging without affecting the frontend of the site.
The plugin is particularly useful in non-local environments where traditional debugging tools may be excessive. By inserting a simple line of code, developers can quickly review variable states, which can save time during development and debugging processes.
Best for: This plugin is suited for developers looking for a simple debugging tool for PHP variables in WordPress.
What it does well
- ✓Provides a clean interface for inspecting PHP variables
- ✓Does not output anything on the frontend
- ✓Easy to use with a simple line of code
- ✓No complicated configuration required
- ✓Suitable for non-local development environments
Where it falls short
- •Limited information on additional features or configurations
Verdict
Variable Inspector offers a practical solution for developers needing to inspect variables without complex setups. It is a useful addition to the toolkit of anyone working with PHP in WordPress.
From the developer
Bowo's own description of Variable Inspector, lightly tidied.
Variable Inspector allows you to easily inspect your PHP $variables in a visually clean manner at a central dashboard in wp-admin. It aims to be an easy and useful enough dev and debug tool.
It provides a single-line code to inspect your variable (see “How to Use” below). Nothing is shown to site visitors nor being output on the frontend, and the $variable content is nicely formatted for review using var_dump(), var_export() and print_r() on the inspector dashboard in wp-admin.
It’s a real time-saver for scenarios where Xdebug or even something like Ray is not ideal or simply an overkill. For example, when coding on a non-local environment via tools like Code Snippets, WPCodeBox, Scripts Organizer or Advanced Scripts. Additionally, because it is a regular WordPress plugin, you simply install, activate and use without the need for complicated configuration.
What Users Say
“Huge time-saver when working with PHP variables.” ~Jeff Starr
“Works great! Love this thing.” ~Josh
“Every developer need it. You can debug easily every variable.” ~Pexle Chris
“All I need. Enough to test the function of snippets. Works flawless.” ~@tesig
“It does what it does very well, and doesn’t try to do everything.” ~@swb1
How to Use
Simply place the following line anywhere in your code after the $variable_name you’d like to inspect:
do_action( 'inspect', [ 'variable_name', $variable_name ] );
If you’d like to record the originating PHP file and line number, append the PHP magic constants __FILE__ and __LINE__ as follows.
do_action( 'inspect', [ 'variable_name', $variable_name, __FILE__, __LINE__ ] );
This would help you locate and clean up the inspector lines once you’re done debugging.
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