empty vs !empty 1

[yamy]

which syntax is correct:

if (empty ($_POST['var'])) {

or

if (!empty ($_POST['var'])) {

and if both are correct, what determines the use of the leading !

thanks
amy

 

[Sleidia]

Hi Amy

if (empty($_POST['var'])) {
// means : if $_POST['var'] is empty ("" or 0) then do something

if (!empty($_POST['var'])) {
// means : if $_POST['var'] is not empty (either non "" or non 0) then do something

The leading ! means "function == FALSE".

Thus,
if (!empty($_POST['var'])) {
is the same as
if (empty($_POST['var']) == FALSE) {

 

[jpadie]

Sleidia is absolutely correct, but empty is not a straightforward and behaves differently dependent on the type of variable that is being tested. read here for further info

http://www.php.net/empty

 

[Sleidia]

Personally, I never use empty().

I prefer to check thing specifically, ie:

if($var != "") // for strings
if($var > 0) // for numbers
if(sizeof($var) > 0) // for arrays

I'm not saying that it's how it should be done though.

 

[yamy]

Thanks!