laravel - if else loop not working proper - php

Question

I'm trying to write an if-else loop: if there is an embed saved in the database it should display a calendar, if not it should display a button saying "add new calendar/add new embed", but it's not working. I can't figure out why. When there is an embed saved in the database it displays the embed but, if there isn't an embed it doesn't display the button to add a new calendar/embed:
Blade view:
#if (empty($calendars))
#else
<h4>No calendar settings</h4><br>
<a href="{{ route('calendarsettings.create')}}">
<button class="btn btn-success btn-cons m-b-10" type="button">
<i class="fa fa-cloud-upload"></i>
<span class="bold">Add embed</span>
</button>
</a>
#endif
#foreach($calendars as $calendar)
{{ $calendar->embed }}
#endforeach
Controller:
public function kalendarz() {
$calendars = Calendar::with('users')->where('user_id', Auth::user()->id)->get();
return view('kalendarz',['calendars'=>$calendars]);
}

Answer 1

In Laravel 5.4, I would probably use the #unless blade directive, that will show the block, unless a condition is met. What the following code would acheive is "show the entries if we have some, and show the button unless we have some entries".
#if($calendar)
// show entries
#endif
#unless(empty($calendars))
// show a button to add a new one
#endunless
It kind of is the same "logic" as with an else, but somehow I think it's more clear and easy to read than an #else statement, and make it separate from the if.

Answer 2

The correct syntax is:
#if(empty($calendars))
<h4>No calendar settings</h4></br>
<a href="{{ route('calendarsettings.create')}}">
<button class="btn btn-success btn-cons m-b-10" type="button"><i class="fa fa-cloud-upload"></i> <span class="bold">Add embed</span></button>
</a>
#else
#foreach($calendars as $calendar)
{{ $calendar->embed }}
#endforeach
#endif

Answer 3

empty() functions empty the variable $calendars, so try using count()
#if(count($calendars) > 0)
<h4>No calendar settings</h4></br>
<a href="{{ route('calendarsettings.create')}}">
<button class="btn btn-success btn-cons m-b-10" type="button"><i class="fa fa-cloud-upload"></i> <span class="bold">Add embed</span></button>
</a>
#else
#foreach($calendars as $calendar)
{{ $calendar->embed }}
#endforeach
#endif

Answer 4

When using Eloquent to get results from a database you get an instance of Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Collection. To check if that collection is empty you use $collection->isEmpty() or $collection->isNotEmpty() (L5.4).
#if ($calendars->isNotEmpty())
// Have entries.
#else
<h4>No calendar settings</h4></br>
<a href="{{ route('calendarsettings.create')}}"><button class="btn btn-success btn-cons m-b-10" type="button"><i class="fa fa-cloud-upload"></i> <span class="bold">Add embed</span>
</button></a>
#endif
#foreach($calendars as $calendar)
{{$calendar->embed}}
#endforeach