Extend error_log() capability with output buffering

gistfile1.php

<?php

// create dummy array for example
$array = array("one", "two", "three");

// turn on output buffering
ob_start();

// use var_dump to output the contents of the array/object
var_dump($array);

// store current output buffer contents and delete buffer
$string = ob_get_clean();

// pipe the value of $string to the error_log() function
error_log($string);