CODEWITHSUNDEEP
phpternary-operator
Francesca
Francesca

Reputation: 28188

PHP using empty, isset or is_null in a ternary

My PHP is rusty and I'm struggling to figure this out. I'm working with forum software (SMF) and can't really tell the value of the variable I'm trying to check.

All members are assigned a post_group e.g Senior Member

Some users are assigned a special group e.g Moderator.

I want to set the variable $memberType to the group if there is one, if not the post_group.

E.g

User is Moderator and Senior Member. $memberType = 'Moderator'

User is just Junior Member. $memberType = 'Junior Member'

Here's what I've tried:

$memberType = is_null($message['member']['group']) ? $message['member']['group'] : $message['member']['post_group'];

I also tried empty() and isset() instead of is_null but none of them seem to get me a consistent result.

is_null only applies the post_group, empty() only applies the post_group but weirdly not for my "newbie" class. isset() only applies the post.

Any way I can get a consistent result?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 3049

Answers (2)

Pedro Lobito
Pedro Lobito

Reputation: 99081

What you probably need is :

$memberType = empty($message['member']['group']) ? $message['member']['post_group'] : $message['member']['group'];

Basically is says (pseudocode):

IF $message['member']['group'] IS EMPTY :

$memberType = $message['member']['post_group'];

ELSE :

$memberType = $message['member']['group'];

empty():

The following value are considered to be empty:

  • "" (an empty string)
  • 0 (0 as an integer)
  • 0.0 (0 as a float)
  • "0" (0 as a string)
  • NULL
  • FALSE
  • array() (an empty array)
  • $var; (a variable declared, but without a value)

Upvotes: 0

Sohaib
Sohaib

Reputation: 4704

I guess you missed a ! in your question. empty should work in your scenario. Acc to the man page of empty

Returns FALSE if var exists and has a non-empty, non-zero value. Otherwise returns TRUE.

The following things are considered to be empty:

  • "" (an empty string)
  • 0 (0 as an integer)
  • 0.0 (0 as a float)
  • "0" (0 as a string)
  • NULL
  • FALSE
  • array() (an empty array)
  • $var; (a variable declared, but without a value)

So to sum up something like this should work.

$memberType = empty($message['member']['group']) === FALSE ? $message['member']['group'] : $message['member']['post_group'];

Upvotes: 1

Related Questions