PhpStorm 2023.3 Help

Browser debugging extensions

In order to start debugging, you first need to activate the debugger engine on the server. To do this, you need to set a special GET/POST or COOKIE parameter (for more information, refer to the Xdebug and Zend Debugger official documentation). While you can do it manually, it is more convenient to use a browser extension, which lets you enable the debugger with a single click.

The following table lists the available debugging extensions.

Configure Xdebug Helper for Chrome

  1. Install the Xdebug helper extension for Chrome from the Chrome Web Store.

  2. In PhpStorm, enable listening to incoming debug connections by either clicking the Start Listening for PHP Debug Connections button ( in the classic UI) on the toolbar or selecting Run | Start Listening for PHP Debug Connections

  3. Initiate connection from the browser side. Click the Xdebug Helper icon on the browser toolbar to initiate a debugging, profiling or tracing session:

    Xdebug helper in Chrome
  4. As a rule, no further configuration is required. If necessary, you can explore additional settings by right-clicking the Xdebug Helper icon and choosing Options from the context menu.

    Xdebug helper settings

Configure Zend Debugger Toolbar for Firefox

  1. Install Zend Debugger Toolbar.

  2. In PhpStorm, enable listening to incoming debug connections by either clicking the Start Listening for PHP Debug Connections button ( in the classic UI) on the toolbar or selecting Run | Start Listening for PHP Debug Connections

  3. In the browser, click the Zend Debugger icon on the toolbar and select Settings. Make sure that Autodetect is selected, and the Broadcasting port value matches the value set for Settings broadcasting port on the PHP | Debug page of the IDE settingsĀ  Ctrl+Alt+S.

    Zend debugger extension in Firefox
  4. Initiate connection from the browser side. Click the Zend Debugger icon on the browser toolbar to initiate a debugging or profiling session:

    Zend debugger extension settings
Last modified: 04 March 2024