How to use Firebug's debugger functions?

Question

I don't have an experience with any debugger tools geared towards my language, but I recently found some videos showcasing Firebug.

I'm now using Firebug on a script in which I included an error.

My current understanding is:

• I can set a breakpoint, which is shown as a red circle.
• Firebug stops at the breakpoint and gives me 4 options (Continue, Step Into, Step Over and Step Out).

But I don't understand:

• What the difference is between the 4 options:

Continue, Step Into, Step Over and Step Out?

To me, Step Over is sometimes similar to Step Into... I could be wrong here.

I would be grateful if you could explain the differences of the 4 options, or a link to a more in depth explanation on these options.

Answer 1

• Continue F8- Resume execution as if the code was never stopped

• Step Into F11 - Change the debugger context to run into the function the code is stopped on. If the code cannot step into the function, this is the same as Step Over

• Step Over F10- Execute the code the debugger is stopped on, but stay within the current function

• Step Out Ctrl+F11 - Execute code until the end of the current function, and resume debugging once it has returned

These terms apply to all debuggers. Here is perhaps a better (or at least, more complete) explanation: http://www.developerfusion.com/article/33/debugging/4/

• TK.: What do you mean by the current function in the context of JavaScript? function is used in many purposes in JavaScript.
• Justin Ethier: Yes it is, but a function is ultimately just a block of code - so for example when you "step into" a function the debugger will take you to the first line of code in that function. So if I set a breakpoint on a call to myfunction(), the debugger breaks, and I click step into, the debugger jumps to the first line of myfunction. Or if I click step over, the debugger just goes to the next line.