How to check if a PHP POST array has any value set? - php

Question

I need to check if any item in an array, that is part of a $_POST array, has a value. The values in the empty array are set, so the above example will not produce the desired results. (This array is a subset of the full $_POST array).
(
[columns] =>
[coached_textbox] => 1
[item] => Array
(
[first] => Array
(
[coach_menu_value] => one
[coach_menu_name] => Menu One
)
[second] => Array
(
[coach_menu_value] =>
[coach_menu_name] =>
)
(
Is there a simple way to test if either array item has a value? I could test each item in the array for value, but that seems inelegant.
This example provided in earlier post gives a fine example on how to test a code initialized array() for values.
if ($signup_errors) {
// there was an error
} else {
// there wasn't
}
However, it doesn't work on an array set within a $_POST array.

Answer 1

Use a recursive function like below to traverse the array. The function will return true if the array contains at least one non-null value or non-empty string.
function traverseArray($arr){
$flag = false;
foreach($arr as $value){
if(is_array($value)){
$flag = traverseArray($value);
if($flag) return true;
}else{
if(isset($value) && $value != '') return true;
}
}
return $flag;
}
And this is how you should call this function,
(Suppose $array is your original array)
$isNonEmptyArray = traverseArray($array);
if($isNonEmptyArray){
// At least one element in the array is either
// non-null value or non-empty string
}else{
// Array is completely empty
}
Here's a live demo: https://eval.in/847211

Answer 2

You can filter out the empty values and check for empty():
if (empty(array_filter($_POST['item']['second']))) {
// It is empty
} else {
// It is NOT empty
}
Or even just check for falsey value:
if (!array_filter($_POST['item']['second'])) {
// It is empty
} else {
// It is NOT empty
}