PhpStorm 2024.2 Help

Debug tool window

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

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, go to the Build, Execution, Deployment | Debugger page of settings  Ctrl+Alt+S and clear the Show debug window on breakpoint checkbox.

Debug tool window overview

Sessions

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

Session tabs

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

All the information in the editor, 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.

When you close a tab, the corresponding debug session terminates.

Tabs

The Debug tool window shows the following tabs for each session:

  • Frames: lets you navigate in the 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.

Switch tabs

  • To cycle through the tool window tabs, press Alt+Right and Alt+Left.

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
Last modified: 24 October 2024