Check if object/array is empty - php

Question

I'm trying to check if the following is empty or not.
{"players":""}
I have a function that gets that from an api/site and.. well, heres the code.
function getPlayers($server) {
// Fetches content from url and json_decodes it
$playersList = getUrl('http://api.iamphoenix.me/list/?server_ip=' . $server);
// Attempting to check if it's empty.
if ($playersList != "") {
// convert list of comma-separated names into array
$players = explode(',', $playersList->players);
foreach ($players as $player) {
echo '<img title="'.$player.'" src="https://minotar.net/avatar/'.$player.'/32">';
}
} else {
return 'empty';
}
}
However, using !=, empty(), or isset(), I still get an empty string, example:
https://minotar.net/avatar//32
Where it should be..
https://minotar.net/avatar/Notch/32
When it's empty, I'd like it to just return 'empty'.
I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. Any ideas?

Answer 1

In pure php you can check the url segments like
$_SERVER['REQUEST_URI_PATH'] = parse_url($_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'], PHP_URL_PATH);
$segments = explode('/', $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI_PATH']);
if($segments[2] == '') {
}
//or
if(empty($segments[2])) {
}
//or do your condition
if you are using codeigniter you might say
if(empty($this->uri->segment(2)))
But be sure you loaded the url helper
Hope I understand your question!

Answer 2

Since you were able to have some output, see my changes in the codes.
function getPlayers($server) {
// Fetches content from url and json_decodes it
$playersList = getUrl('http://api.iamphoenix.me/list/?server_ip=' . $server);
// Attempting to check if it's empty.
if ($playersList != "") {
// convert list of comma-separated names into array
$players = explode(',', $playersList->players);
// check conversion
if(is_array($players) && !empty($players){
foreach ($players as $player) {
echo '<img title="'.$player.'" src="https://minotar.net/avatar/'.$player.'/32">';
}
} else {
return 'empty';
}
} else {
return 'empty';
}
}

Answer 3

You should do this;
print_r($playersList);
just after you set it to see what it actually is. My guess is that you are not getting what you suspect from the getURL call.

Answer 4

Add one more equals sign to take type comparison into account as well
if ($playerList !== '')

Answer 5

try this
if (isset($playersList) && is_array($playersList) && !empty($playersList)) {
// convert list of comma-separated names into array
$players = explode(',', $playersList->players);
foreach ($players as $player) {
echo '<img title="'.$player.'" src="https://minotar.net/avatar/'.$player.'/32">';
}
} else {
return 'empty';
}