Best test for empty form value ?

[Cyrus D.]

Hi guys,

What's the best way to test for an empty form value ? I am doing it like
this now:

$test = $_POST['inputTest'];
if(strlen($test) < 1)
// it is empty !

Maybe I can just go:

if($test == '') // that's two single-quotes with nothing in between
// it is empty !

At least I avoid a function call that way. Maybe there is a better way ?

Take care,
Cyrus

[john.postlethwait]

Either way should work find, the second way may have less load on the
server, but honestly neither of them would cause too much... So
whatever is your preference. I ususally do it the second way and never
had a problem with it.

> What's the best way to test for an empty form value ? I am doing it like

this now:

$test = $_POST['inputTest'];
if(strlen($test) < 1)
// it is empty !

Maybe I can just go:

if($test == '') // that's two single-quotes with nothing in between
// it is empty !

It has been my experience that the function "empty()" has not failed me.

If you have a string, "" or '' or "0" is empty.
If you have a numeric variable, 0 is empty
Arrays with no elements is empty
A class property that has been declared but not used (set) is empty
A boolean variable that is FALSE is empty
NULL values are empty
Any object with no properties set is empty

http://www.php.net/empty

____________________________________
Wil Moore III, MCP | Integrations Specialist | Assistant Webmaster

$test = $_POST['inputTest'];
if(strlen($test) < 1)
// it is empty !

Maybe I can just go:

if($test == '') // that's two single-quotes with nothing in between
// it is empty !

Also, do not forget, if you are testing for a key in an array such as your example: $_POST['inputTest'];
you can do isset($_POST['inputTest']) or you can use array_key_exists('inputTest', $_POST)

If you KNOW the key is there, but you just want to know if it has a NULL or "empty" value, your best bet is to run it through the empty() function.

____________________________________
Wil Moore III, MCP | Integrations Specialist | Assistant Webmaster

[Tony Marston]

The foolproof way to check for an empty string is always strlen($var) < 1.
You may also want to use trim() to remove any leading/trailing spaces.

--
Tony Marston

http://www.tonymarston.net

"Cyrus D." <sa***@invalid.org> wrote in message
news:p7*********************@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.n et...

Hi guys,

What's the best way to test for an empty form value ? I am doing it like
this now:

$test = $_POST['inputTest'];
if(strlen($test) < 1)
// it is empty !

Maybe I can just go:

if($test == '') // that's two single-quotes with nothing in between
// it is empty !

At least I avoid a function call that way. Maybe there is a better way ?

Take care,
Cyrus