- var_dump: documentation ( source)
<?php
// inspired by discussion at: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11158772/assigning-null-to-a-variable-in-php-what-does-that-do
$a = 1;
$a = null;
echo isset($a) ? 'true' : 'false', "\n"; // false
var_dump($a); // 'NULL' -- but no error notice - bug ? type changed to NULL
unset($a); // now variable undefined
var_dump($a); // error notice and value NULL
echo isset($a) ? 'true' : 'false', "\n"; // false