- var_dump: documentation ( source)
<?php
$v = array(10, 20); $a = 'v';
$$a[0] = 5; // $v is [5, 20]
var_dump($v);
$v = array(10, 20); $a = 'v';
${$a[0]} = 5; // $v is 5
var_dump($v);
$v = array(10, 20); $a = 'v';
${$a}[0] = 5; // $ gets first shot at $a, $v is [5, 20]
var_dump($v);