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  1. Debug with PhpStorm: Ultimate Guide
  2. Debug tool window

Debug tool window

Last modified: 19 March 2022

Show/hide: View | Tool Windows | Debug or Alt+5

Configure: Settings/Preferences | Build, Execution, Deployment | Debugger

When you start a debugger session, the Debug tool window appears. Use this window to control the debugger session, display and analyze the program data (frames, variables, and so on), and perform various debugger actions.

This is a brief overview of the Debug tool window. For general instructions on using tool windows, refer to Tool windows.

Debug tool window overview

tip

By default, the Debug tool window opens when your program hits a breakpoint and is not hidden when the session is terminated. To change this behavior, clear the Show debug window on breakpoint checkbox on the Build, Execution, Deployment | Debugger page of the IDE settings Ctrl+Alt+S.

Sessions

The available debug sessions are separated into tabs in the top part of the Debug tool window.

Session tabs

If you enable Services window for specific run/debug configurations, the entire view of the Debug window will be displayed inside the Services window when you debug any of these configurations.

All the information like inline variable values and execution point is shown for the selected session tab. This is important if you are running several debug sessions in parallel that use the same code.

note

When you close a tab, the corresponding session terminates.

Tabs

Debug tool window shows the following tabs for each session:

  • Frames: lets you navigate in call stacks of the threads.

  • Variables: lists the variables available in the current context and lets you analyze and modify the program state.

  • Watches: lets you manage watches. By default, watches are shown on the Variables tab for more efficient use of the screen space. If you have a lot of watches, consider viewing them in a separate tab.

  • Console: displays the program output.

    For local sessions, the tab works the same as when you just run the program without the debugger attached. The only difference is that debugger output (for example, log messages from breakpoints) is added to the console.

Show/hide tabs

  • Click Layout options button and select which tabs you want to see.

    Layout options menu

Restore default layout

If you changed the layout of the Debug tool window and don't like the new arrangement, you can revert it to the default state.

  • Click Layout options button in the top-right corner of the Debug tool window, then click Restore Default Layout.

Move tabs

You can arrange the tabs to fit your preference. You can move a tab to another location or group a tab with another tab, so that they share the same space on the screen.

  • Drag the tab header to the desired location. The blue frame indicates the destination.

    Dragging a tab to another location