Reputation: 560

php - check if $_POST is array?

I know this may be a silly question, but I come across a snippet of php code that check if the $_POST is_array() before execute other functions.

Now I guess that $_POST should be always an associative array or not? is this check really needed? and why?

Upvotes: 2

Answers (8)

Rudi Visser

Reputation: 21989

As already mentioned several times, $_POST is a superglobal that is always defined and always an array (unless overwritten).

If you're attempting to test if something has been posted, you could use something like follows:

if (count($_POST)) {
    // something has been submitted
}

To answer the main question, no, the is_array check is not required.

Upvotes: 0

frostymarvelous

Reputation: 2805

Its always an array as many already gave said.

I think the intention is maybe to check for an empty array. !empty($_POST) should do just fine.

Maybe the coder has sections where the array is changed to a string (dumb if you ask me) and wants to make the check, else if that statement comes first, then its unnecessary

Upvotes: 1

markus

Reputation: 40685

$_POST is a superglobal and is always defined (always exists) and is always an array
this is true, even if it doesn't contain any elements
it is possible though, if not advisable and I've never seen it, to overwrite or unset it
you don't need isset() and is_array() for the $_POST array but you will quite often need them for elements in the $_POST array

Upvotes: 3

No Results Found

Reputation: 102824

$_POST is always an array, they're probably checking if a certain $_POST value is an array.

<input name="test" /> $_POST['test'] is not an array

<input name="test[]" /> $_POST['test'] is an array

Upvotes: 3

Twelve47

Reputation: 3982

$_POST is always defined as an array even it doesn't contain any key/value pairs.

Upvotes: 0

halfdan

Reputation: 34234

PHP makes sure that $_POST is always an array, you don't need to do that check unless somewhere in your code you either unset or overwrite $_POST somehow.

Upvotes: 1