See what a string "really" contains?

Question

With phpdocx, I am retrieving a template variable from a *.docx file. However, when var_dump()-ing the string, I receive:

 string(46) "Name(/)Frage(/)rad:Ja(=>ja),Nein(=>nein)"

Obviously, the string's length is 40. How can I see, what else is stored in the string?

I think the ">" are the problem. They are being converted to > I think. Can I stop this behaviour?

Many thanks and best, Philip