For debugging purposes, where should you typically display PHP errors?

When debugging PHP applications, it is essential to display errors in the development environment. This setting is designated specifically for development, allowing developers to see errors, warnings, and notices directly in the output. Displaying errors in this environment facilitates troubleshooting and allows developers to address issues promptly without affecting end users.

In the development environment, error reporting can be configured to show detailed messages, including the error type, message, and where it occurred. This immediate feedback helps identify problems during development, leading to a more robust application before it is deployed to production.

In contrast, displaying errors in a production environment could expose sensitive information to end users and potentially create security vulnerabilities. Server logs are a good practice for tracking issues without displaying them to users, but they do not provide the immediate feedback that the development environment offers. Similarly, logging errors in the database may not be practical for real-time debugging since it separates the error from the immediate context of the running application.

Testing and error handling practices should focus on the development environment, where developers can safely and effectively diagnose and resolve issues.