I have this variable in a big php script that I want to trace back to where/when and what value it was instantiated. Is there a function/api or debugging techniques to do this?
If you're using PHPStorm you can set breakpoints and inspect the values of variables.
You'll need xdebug installed as well.
You can use debug_print_backtrace() function. http://php.net/manual/en/function.debug-print-backtrace.php
<?php
function f1() {
f2();
}
function f2() {
f3();
}
function f3(){
echo "<pre>";
debug_print_backtrace();
echo "</pre>";
}
f1();
?>
Output:
#0 f3() called at [/home/xfiddlec/public_html/main/code_47406510.php:9]
#1 f2() called at [/home/xfiddlec/public_html/main/code_47406510.php:5]
#2 f1() called at [/home/xfiddlec/public_html/main/code_47406510.php:18]