putting print_r results in variable

Question

In PHP I can say:

print_r($var);

What I can't do (at least I don't know how) is:

$var_info = print_r($var);

How can I accomplish the effect of putting the results of a print_r inside a variable?
PHP v5.3.5

Answer 1

$var_info = print_r($var, true);

Answer 2

When the second parameter is set to TRUE, print_r() will return the information rather than print it

$var_info = print_r($var,true);