How to simplify php code that checks for null and sets value to replace null?

Question

I have to write a lot of code like this:

         if ( !empty($value['fax'])) {
                $temp['fax'] = $value['fax'];
         } else {
            $temp['fax'] = "unknown";
         }

just wondering if there's a shorter version of this ...

AbraCadaver · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-10 21:07:03Z

3

Check out the Ternary Operator:

$temp['fax'] = (!empty($value['fax'])) ? $value['fax'] : 'unknown';

If you're actually checking isset() or is_null() and not empty() (which includes null, false, 0, '') then in PHP 7:

$temp['fax'] = $value['fax'] ?? 'unknown';

edited Nov 10, 2016 at 21:07

answered Nov 10, 2016 at 20:47

AbraCadaver

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2 Comments

Rizier123 Over a year ago

You can't use ?: here like this, because if the condition is true it will use the returned value from !empty($value['fax']) which will be TRUE or FALSE and not the value of the variable.

AbraCadaver Over a year ago

Yeah, caught that. Bonehead mistake.

rogers · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-10 21:04:54Z

2

PHP7+ solution (Null coalesce operator):

$temp['fax'] = $value['fax'] ?? 'unknown';

answered Nov 10, 2016 at 21:04

rogers

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Comments

Jeremy Harris · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-10 20:56:36Z

1

Use the ternary operators:

$temp['fax'] = !empty($value['fax']) ? $value['fax'] : 'unknown'

edited Nov 10, 2016 at 20:56

Jeremy Harris

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answered Nov 10, 2016 at 20:46

Jaime

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2 Comments

Happydevdays Over a year ago

I think you've mixed up the $temp with the $value.

Jaime Over a year ago

Yep. Fixed. Thank you

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