CODEWITHSUNDEEP
powershell
AlexLordThorsen
AlexLordThorsen

Reputation: 8478

Test if something is "False Like"

In Python I can say

test_variable = ""
if test_variable:
    print("I wont make it here because I'm False like")

test_variable = False
if test_variable:
    print("I wont make it here because I'm False like")

test_variable = None
if test_variable:
    print("I wont make it here because I'm False like")

And in general I can just get away with stating if variable to test if something is "False Like."

In PowerShell I've run into the case where I have to check both for $Null and empty string.

If (($git_pull_output -eq $Null) -or ($git_pull_output -eq ""))

Is there a PowerShell is there a way to check if something is "False like"?

Upvotes: 1

Views: 172

Answers (2)

Matt
Matt

Reputation: 46700

Another simple "false like" test is to just evaluate the variable as a boolean

PS C:\Users\Matt> $test = ""
PS C:\Users\Matt> If($test){"'' Test is good"}

PS C:\Users\Matt> $test = $false
PS C:\Users\Matt> If($test){"False test is good"}

PS C:\Users\Matt> $test = " "
PS C:\Users\Matt> If($test){"Space test is good"}

Space test is good

Note the only test that succeeded was the when $test = " "

If whitespace was an issue you were looking to avoid as well then IsNullOrWhiteSpace() is the method for you

PS C:\Users\Matt> [string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace(" ")
True

Upvotes: 3

Bacon Bits
Bacon Bits

Reputation: 32145

$false is an automatic variable with the value of false. See Get-Help about_Automatic_Variables.

However:

In Powershell I've run into the case where I have to check both for $Null and empty string.

For this you should use the IsNullOrEmpty() static member function of the System.String class:

if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($git_pull_output)) { [...] }

You may also consider the IsNullOrWhiteSpace() static method.

Upvotes: 3

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