# writeDump

Outputs the contents of a variable (simple or complex) of any type for debugging purposes to a specific output location.

The available `output` locations are: - **buffer**: The output is written to the buffer, which is the default location. If running on a web server, the output is written to the browser. - **console**: The output is printed to the System console. - **Absolute File Path** The output is written to a file with the specified absolute file path.

The output `format` can be either HTML or plain text.

The default format is HTML if the output location is the buffer or a web server or a file, otherwise it is plain text for the console.

## Method Signature

```
writeDump(var=[any], label=[string], top=[numeric], expand=[boolean], abort=[boolean], output=[string], format=[string], showUDFs=[boolean])
```

### Arguments

| Argument   | Type      | Required | Description                                                                                                                                    | Default |
| ---------- | --------- | -------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |
| `var`      | `any`     | `false`  | The variable to dump, can be any type                                                                                                          |         |
| `label`    | `string`  | `false`  | A custom label to display above the dump (Only in HTML output)                                                                                 |         |
| `top`      | `numeric` | `false`  | The number of levels to display when dumping collections. Great to avoid dumping the entire world! Default is inifinity. (Only in HTML output) |         |
| `expand`   | `boolean` | `false`  | Whether to expand the dump. Be default, we try to expand as much as possible. (Only in HTML output)                                            | `true`  |
| `abort`    | `boolean` | `false`  | Whether to do a hard abort the request after dumping. Default is false                                                                         | `false` |
| `output`   | `string`  | `false`  | The output format which can be "buffer", "console", or "{absolute file path}". The default is "buffer".                                        |         |
| `format`   | `string`  | `false`  | The format of the output to a **filename**. Can be "html" or "text". The default is according to the output location.                          |         |
| `showUDFs` | `boolean` | `false`  | Show UDFs or not. Default is true. (Only in HTML output)                                                                                       | `true`  |

## Examples

## Related

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* [BoxUnregisterInterceptor](https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/system/boxunregisterinterceptor)
* [BoxUnregisterRequestInterceptor](https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/system/boxunregisterrequestinterceptor)
* [CallStackGet](https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/system/callstackget)
* [CreateGUID](https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/system/createguid)
* [CreateObject](https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/system/createobject)
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* [echo](https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/system/echo)
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