php if statement null and 0? - php

Question

i'm having trouble executing my if statement
if($parent == $page->parent)
my dollar $parent = null and my $page->parent = 0 how do i fix this that they are equal?
i think it's a problem with the fact it doesn't know that null is equal to 0
$page = Page::find($id);
$parent = Input::get('parent'); // Null
i hope you guys can help me out i have to figure this out
here's my controller just in case you wan't to take a look at it
public function updateMenu($id)
{
$page = Page::find($id);
$parent = Input::get('parent');
$new_order = Input::get('index');
if($parent == $page->parent)
{
if($page->order_id > $new_order)
{
DB::table('pages')
->where('parent',$parent)
->where('order_id', '<', $page->order_id)
->increment('order_id');
}
else
{
DB::table('pages')
->where('parent',$parent)
->where('order_id', '>=', $page->order_id)
->decrement('order_id');
}
}
else
{
DB::table('pages')
->where('parent',$parent)
->where('order_id', '>=', $new_order)
->increment('order_id');
}
$page->order_id = Input::get('index');
$page->parent = Input::get('parent');
$page->save();
return $id;
}

Answer 1

I dont think 0 can be equals with NULL. maybe if($parent == $page->parent || ($parent == null && $page->parent == 0)) more helpful

Answer 2

Use the strict equality operator: === instead of ==
localhost> = 0 === null
false
localhost> = 0 == null
true

Answer 3

You can use:
if(is_null($parent) && ($page->parent==0))
{
}