Checking if PHP Variables are and aren't NULL - php

UPDATE:
The following code
function findNowPlayingCondition () {
if (isset($nowplayingname) && isset($nowplayingartist)) {$nowplayingcond = '1'; };
if (isset($nowplayingname) && !$nowplayingartist) {$nowplayingcond = '2'; };
if (!$nowplayingname && isset($nowplayingartist)) {$nowplayingcond = '3'; };
if (!$nowplayingname && !$nowplayingartist) {$nowplayingcond = '4'; };
echo "$nowplayingcond";
}
always comes back with '4', again, I am stumped.
====================
I am trying to create a PHP if/then statement that if $nowplayingname has a valid string in it, and $nowplayingartist is not set, is '', or is NULL, it will set $nowplayingcond as '2'.
if (var_dump(isset($nowplayingname)) && !$nowplayingartist) {$nowplayingcond = '2'};
I am getting a parse error when this executes, I suspect it has something to do with var_dump(isset(, but I am not certain.

This will do.
if(!empty($nowplayingname) && !isset($nowplayingartist))
{
$nowplayingcond = 2;
}

To fix the syntax error:
if (var_dump(isset($nowplayingname)) && !$nowplayingartist) {$nowplayingcond = '2';};
// ---^
Further suggestions:
Indent your code properly and don't use one-liners that way:
if (var_dump(isset($nowplayingname)) && !$nowplayingartist) {
$nowplayingcond = '2';
}
Why do you use var_dump() in an IF statement? Apart from the fact that var_dump()'s return value will always evaluate to a falsy boolean, the line doesn't make sense (logic error).
Use more readable variable names:
$nowPlayingName
$nowPlayingArtist

You are right, var_dump should not be there. var_dump() is used for debugging.
Following code would be enough:
if(isset($nowplayingname)) { ... }

Related

PHP not showing error when I put only single = in if condition

My code as follows:
if($_POST['user_id'] = ''){
//some statement;
}
In the above if condition I have put only single =. PHP is not showing any error but I am getting a white blank page. Does anyone has any clue?
if($_POST['user_id'] = '') means:
$_POST['user_id'] becomes '' .. if ('') // always false
if($_POST['user_id'] == '') means:
$_POST['user_id'] compares to '' .. if ( comparison)
Not sure if trolling or real question...
you said it yourself, you're using a single =. You need 2 to check for equality.
if($_POST['user_id'] == ''){
//some statement;
}
When you use a single equal sign, you're basically "set $_POST['user_id'] to '', then test if it's true). Since '' evaluates to false, you get nothing.
This:
if($_POST['user_id'] = ''){
Tries to assign an empty string to $_POST['user_id']. This:
if($_POST['user_id'] == ''){
Is a comparison. You should almost always be doing the second one - the first one over-rides the value in $_POST, and returns the value of the assignment.
try it
Use it
$user_id = $_POST['user_id'];
if($user_id == ''){
//some statement;
}
inseted of
if($user_id = ''){
//some statement;
}
Or try another one
$user_id = $_POST['user_id'];
if(isset($user_id) && !empty($user_id)){
//some statement;
}
It's not triggering any error because it is a valid condition.
if($_POST['user_id'] = '')
equals to
$_POST['user_id'] = '';
if($_POST['user_id']){
//Boolean comparison of a string. Empty = false. Not empty = true.
}
An example of use:
function division($var1, $var2){
if($var2 > 0){
return $var1/$var2;
return false;
}
if($result = division(50,2)){
//It returned 25 which is true!
}
if(!$result = division(50,0)){
//Returned FALSE because you can't divide by zero!
}

Is this the proper use of an array and isset?

So I've got this code and part of it is a form, and ALL fields are absolutely required.
I just can't find clear documentation for my needs to validate everything.
would I do something like this?
$foo = $_POST['foo'];
$bar = $_POST['bar'];
$lorem = $_POST['lorem'];
$ipsum = $_POST['ipsum'];
$isSet = array($foo, $bar, $lorem, $ipsum);
if(isset($isSet)) { /* Do the stuff */ }
or is there a better way? I don't really want to do
if(isset($foo) && isset($bar) && isset($lorem)........
because i've got about 12 fields that are required
You can do:
if (isset($foo, $bar, $lorem, $ipsum)) {.....}
Saves you one step.
http://php.net/manual/en/function.isset.php
Remember that isset will return true if you have an empty string. So, technically
isset($_POST['foo'])
would return true if foo is passed in with a blank value:
foo=&bar=&...etc.
Also,
isset(array())
returns true;
If "" is not a valid value for one of those variables, you will want to do the following:
$requiredFields = array('foo', 'bar', 'lorem', 'ipsum');
$allValid = true;
foreach ($requireFields => $fieldName) {
if (isset($_POST[$fieldName]) && $_POST[$fieldName] != "") {
$allValid = $allValid && true;
} else {
$allValid = $allValid && false;
}
}
if ($allValid) {
//...success...
} else {
//...failed...
}
You essentially check that the variable was passed and also that the variable is not set to "".
Hope that helps.

What is the most succinct way to test if either of two variables are set?

What I'm doing is, if I haven't got an ID in either $_POST or $_SESSION then redirecting. Preference is given to $_POST. So I have this:
$bool = 0;
if (isset($_POST['id'])) {
$bool = 1;
} elseif (isset($_SESSION['id'])) {
$bool = 1;
}
if (!$bool) {
...//redirect
}
Is there a quicker way to write this, APART from just removing the braces?
if(!( isset($_POST['id']) || isset($_SESSION['id']) ))
redirect();
(not sure if I understand how what's given to $_POST is preference).
You could just do:
$has_id = isset($_POST['id']) || isset($_SESSION['id']);
if (!$has_id) {
// redirect
}
(I'd recommend you to give your variables more descriptive names than just $bool.)
Although if you aren't using the variable for anything else, you could just do:
if (!isset($_POST['id']) && !isset($_SESSION['id'])) {
// redirect
}
if (isset($_POST['id']) || isset($_SESSION['id'])) {
$bool = 1;
}
This will do it, simples
$bool = (isset($_POST['id']) || isset($_SESSION['id'])) ? 1 : 0; // if isset, 1
($bool == 1?header(Location: www.whatever.com):null;
Using Conditional Operator, you can achieve this in one line statement
Example:
c = (a == b) ? d : e;

Compare variables PHP

How can I compare two variable strings, would it be like so:
$myVar = "hello";
if ($myVar == "hello") {
//do code
}
And to check to see if a $_GET[] variable is present in the url would it be like this"
$myVars = $_GET['param'];
if ($myVars == NULL) {
//do code
}
$myVar = "hello";
if ($myVar == "hello") {
//do code
}
$myVar = $_GET['param'];
if (isset($myVar)) {
//IF THE VARIABLE IS SET do code
}
if (!isset($myVar)) {
//IF THE VARIABLE IS NOT SET do code
}
For your reference, something that stomped me for days when first starting PHP:
$_GET["var1"] // these are set from the header location so www.site.com/?var1=something
$_POST["var1"] //these are sent by forms from other pages to the php page
For comparing strings I'd recommend using the triple equals operator over double equals.
// This evaluates to true (this can be a surprise if you really want 0)
if ("0" == false) {
// do stuff
}
// While this evaluates to false
if ("0" === false) {
// do stuff
}
For checking the $_GET variable I rather use array_key_exists, isset can return false if the key exists but the content is null
something like:
$_GET['param'] = null;
// This evaluates to false
if (isset($_GET['param'])) {
// do stuff
}
// While this evaluates to true
if (array_key_exits('param', $_GET)) {
// do stuff
}
When possible avoid doing assignments such as:
$myVar = $_GET['param'];
$_GET, is user dependant. So the expected key could be available or not. If the key is not available when you access it, a run-time notice will be triggered. This could fill your error log if notices are enabled, or spam your users in the worst case. Just do a simple array_key_exists to check $_GET before referencing the key on it.
if (array_key_exists('subject', $_GET) === true) {
$subject = $_GET['subject'];
} else {
// now you can report that the variable was not found
echo 'Please select a subject!';
// or simply set a default for it
$subject = 'unknown';
}
Sources:
http://ca.php.net/isset
http://ca.php.net/array_key_exists
http://php.net/manual/en/language.types.array.php
If you wanna check if a variable is set, use isset()
if (isset($_GET['param'])){
// your code
}
To compare a variable to a string, use this:
if ($myVar == 'hello') {
// do stuff
}
To see if a variable is set, use isset(), like this:
if (isset($_GET['param'])) {
// do stuff
}
All this information is listed on PHP's website under Operators
http://php.net/manual/en/language.operators.comparison.php

If statement structure in PHP

I keep getting an error with the following bit of code. It is probably some small thing but I don't see what is wrong.
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($result))
{
$varp = $row['ustk_retail'];
if ($varp<80000) { $o1 = 1; }
if (($varp=>80000) && ($varp<100000)) { $o2 = "1"; }
if (($varp=>100000) && ($varp<120000)) { $o3 = "1"; }
if (($varp=>120000) && ($varp<140000)) { $o4 = "1"; }
if (($varp=>140000) && ($varp<160000)) { $o5 = "1"; }
if (($varp=>160000) && ($varp<180000)) { $o6 = "1"; }
if (($varp=>180000) && ($varp<200000)) { $o7 = "1"; }
if (($varp=>200000) && ($varp<220000)) { $o8 = "1"; }
if (($varp=>220000) && ($varp<240000)) { $o9 = "1"; }
if (($varp=>240000) && ($varp<260000)) { $o10 = "1"; }
if (($varp=>260000) && ($varp<280000)) { $o11 = "1"; }
if (($varp=>280000) && ($varp<300000)) { $o12 = "1"; }
if ($varp>=300000) { $o13 = "1"; }
}
Running php -l (lint) on your code I get a
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_DOUBLE_ARROW
The T_DOUBLE_ARROW token is what PHP expects when assigning array values to array keys.
When comparing for Greater than or equal to the PHP Parser expects T_IS_GREATER_OR_EQUAL, meaning you have to use >= instead of =>.
See
the chapter on Comparison Operators in the PHP Manual and
the List of Parser Tokens in the PHP Manual
Greater than or equal to is >= sign, not =>
Update:
You are right. It's small but hard to find mistake.
It took me to split whole line into pieces to see where the problem is:
<?php
if
(
$varp
=>
80000
)
So, it says parse error on line 5 and I had to doublecheck this operator.
Of course, at first I separated the problem line from the rest of the code to be certain.
You have an expression error.
$varp=>220000 // is not a valid php expression
=> operator is used to assign values in arrays like:
$x = array( 'foo' => 'bar');
>= is the comparation assigment greater than or equal
You have made a mistake in the if conditions. The greater than Equal to sign is >= and not =>.
The answer has already been given but thought this was neat enough to share:
PHP accepts boolean expressions in it's switch statement.
switch(TRUE) {
case $range <= 10: echo "range below or equal to 10"; break;
case $range <= 20: echo "range above 10 below or equal to 20"; break;
case $range <= 30: echo "range above 20 below or equal to 30"; break;
default: echo "high range";
}
In my opinion this generates the cleanest most readable code.
This is more readable and compact way to do the same:
$ranges = range(300000, 80000, -20000);
$index = 1;
$varp = 220001;
foreach ($ranges as $i => $range) {
if ($varp >= $range) {
$index = 13 - $i;
break;
}
}
${'o' . $index} = 1;
Anyway - I think you're doing something wrong with using variable name of result.
You probably want to change ($varp=300000) to ($varp==300000) and it might help to enclose the full if-statement inside (), like this
if($varp80000 && $varp100000 && $varp120000 && $varp140000 && $varp160000 && $varp180000 && $varp200000 && $varp220000 && $varp240000 && $varp260000 && $varp280000 && $varp==300000) { $o13 = "1"; }
On another note, where to these strange $varp#### variables come from?
Not sure whether the code you've posted has gotten messed up somehow, but it looks like you're missing "==" in some of the if conditions. Also, as Skilldrick pointed out, the whole if condition should be in parentheses
"Greater than or equal to is >= NOT =>. You use => for arrays for keys/values.
Add one more bracket around the conditions in if....
if ( ($varp80000) && ($varp100000) && ($varp120000) && ($varp140000) && ($varp160000) && ($varp180000) && ($varp200000) && ($varp220000) && ($varp240000) && ($varp260000) && ($varp280000) && ($varp=300000) ) { $o13 = "1"; }

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