How to declare an empty variable inside function in PHP - php

Question

It sound a Stupid question but I don know what is the problem each time i try to declare a variable inside a function it gives me an error !
function emptyInputSignup($name, $email, $password, $confirm_password)
{
$result;
if (empty($name) || empty($email) || empty($password) || ($confirm_password)) {
$result = true;
} else {
$result = false;
}
return $result;
}
I've tried to declare it and i got an error.

Answer 1

You don't declare variables in PHP, you define them.
There's no need for $result; and it actually means "read the value of the variable $result and then do nothing with it" - which will give you an undefined variable error if $result isn't defined (which, in your case, it is).
What you have to do instead is initialize $result to some value, or leave it out completely:
$result = false;
For example.
Your code can be greatly simplified by just using assigment:
$result = empty($name) || empty($email) || empty($password) || ($confirm_password);
No need for the if. And you can actually ditch the $result variable entirely:
function emptyInputSignup($name, $email, $password, $confirm_password) {
return empty($name) || empty($email) || empty($password) || ($confirm_password);
}

Answer 2

You can initialize a variable like this:
$result = NULL;
You can try using any of the following:
{
$result = false;
if (empty($name) || empty($email) || empty($password) || ($confirm_password)) {
$result = true;
}
return $result;
}
// or
{
if (empty($name) || empty($email) || empty($password) || ($confirm_password)) {
return true;
}
return false;
}
// or
{
return (empty($name) || empty($email) || empty($password) || ($confirm_password));
}
All these constructs produce the same result.