Best test for empty form value ?

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

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

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." <satan@invalid.org> wrote in message
news:p7gdd.23876$YM4.6134341@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
>
>