# What is print\_r in rails

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/what-is-print-r-in-rails/74184>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [December 21, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/what-is-print-r-in-rails/74184 "2005-12-21T17:02:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Brutyn\_N](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Brutyn\_N](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Brutyn_N)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/what-is-print-r-in-rails/74184/1 "2005-12-21T17:02:03Z")

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hey,

i know u have in php print\_r or echo, so that the browser print the  
variable on  
top of page, no matter what

what is this in rails?? put doesnt seem to work

Thanks  
Nick

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**Author:** ![Brutyn\_N](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Brutyn\_N](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Brutyn_N)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/what-is-print-r-in-rails/74184/2 "2005-12-21T17:05:04Z")

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On Wed, 2005-12-21 at 15:56 +0000, Brutyn N. wrote:

> hey,
> 
> i know u have in php print\_r or echo, so that the browser print the variable on  
> top of page, no matter what
> 
> what is this in rails?? put doesnt seem to work

You can use breakpointing, or given @foo:

\<%= @foo.inspect %\>

–

-Matthew B.  
removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid :: 607 227 0871  
Resume and Portfolio @ [http://madhatted.com](http://madhatted.com)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Brutyn\_N](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Brutyn\_N](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Brutyn_N)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/what-is-print-r-in-rails/74184/3 "2005-12-21T17:08:06Z")

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i think you are looking for debug

[http://rails.rubyonrails.com/classes/ActionView/Helpers/DebugHelper.html#M000367](http://rails.rubyonrails.com/classes/ActionView/Helpers/DebugHelper.html#M000367)