How can I force PHP to render fatal errors as plain text?

Error Overview

In PHP, when a fatal error occurs, it typically outputs an HTML-formatted message. This can be inconvenient, especially for developers who prefer to view errors in a plain text format. The question arises: How can I force PHP to render fatal errors as plain text? This guide will explore the common causes of this behavior and provide practical solutions to achieve the desired error output format.

Common Causes

Several factors can contribute to PHP rendering fatal errors in HTML format instead of plain text:

1. Default Behavior: By default, PHP is configured to display errors in an HTML format for better readability in web browsers.
2. Error Handling Settings: The settings in php.ini or .htaccess can determine how errors are reported and displayed.
3. Server Configuration: Depending on the server setup, such as Apache or Nginx, the error handling could be influenced by server directives.
4. Custom Error Handlers: If custom error handlers are registered, they might output errors in a specific format, overriding the default behavior.

Understanding these causes is essential for implementing the right solution.

Solution Methods

To force PHP to render fatal errors as plain text, you can follow several methods. Below are three effective solutions.

Method 1: Using set_error_handler and register_shutdown_function

This method involves creating a custom error handler and utilizing PHP’s built-in functions to capture fatal errors. Follow these steps:

1. Create an Error Handling File
2. Create a file named error.php in your project directory.
3. Add the Following Code to error.php:
   “`php
   <?php
   ini_set(‘html_errors’, false);

register_shutdown_function(‘plain_text_error’);

function plain_text_error()