How to Debug Code in VS Code

Debugging in VS Code

VS Code has a powerful built-in debugger — far better than scattering console.log everywhere. Here's how to use it.

Step 1: Set a Breakpoint

Click in the gutter (left of line numbers). A red dot appears — execution will pause there.

Step 2: Start Debugging

Press F5, or click Run → Start Debugging
# For Node.js, select "Node.js" environment

Step 3: Control Execution

Action	Key
Continue	F5
Step Over	F10
Step Into	F11
Stop	Shift + F5

Step 4: Inspect Variables

When paused, hover over variables to see values, or check the Variables panel on the left.

launch.json for Custom Setups

{
  "version": "0.2.0",
  "configurations": [{
    "type": "node",
    "request": "launch",
    "name": "Debug App",
    "program": "${workspaceFolder}/index.js"
  }]
}

FAQs

Debugger or console.log?

The debugger lets you inspect everything at any point without editing code. More in our how-to guides.

Can I debug in the browser?

Yes — with the JavaScript Debugger for Chrome/Edge.