Suppose you want to check a variable is available or not. Then we can use the following
1. using isset:
if(!isset($var)){
//do something
} else{
//do something
}
2. Using empty:
if(!empty($var)){
//do something
} else{
//do something
}
3. Using the Implicit casting facility
if($var){
//do something
} else{
//do something
}
Now explanation and others
1. the isset function just check only if the variables is set(defined/declared) or not. If defined then return true else return flase. But this don’t check that the variable has a value or empty. So you should be careful to use this function. example:
isset($var);// this will return false
—————-
$var = ‘test’;
isset($var);//this will return true
———-
$var = ”;
isset($var) //this will also return true
2. if u use empty then
Returns FALSE if $var has a non-empty and non-zero value.
The following things are considered to be empty:
| “” (an empty string) |
| 0 (0 as an integer) |
| “0″ (0 as a string) |
and this is an opposite of (boolean)$var.
3. Casting of the variable
if you use the casting then it will work as empty method but warning is generated when the variable is not set.
****As of PHP 5, objects with no properties are no longer considered empty
