How to set default value to a string in PHP if another string is empty?

Question

Best example would be to show you how is this solved in Javascript:

var someString = someEmptyString || 'new text value';

In this javascript example, we have detected that 'someEmptyString' is empty and automatically set the value to 'new text value'. Is this possible in PHP and what's the shortest (code) way to do it?

This is how I do it now:

if ($someEmptyString == "")
    $someString = 'new text value'; else $someString = $someEmptyString;

This is bugging me for quite some time and I would be very grateful if someone knows a better way to do this. Thank you!

a bit shorter: someEmptyString ? someEmptyString : 'new text value'; — Gerben
– Gerben, Commented Jun 23, 2011 at 18:55
possible duplicate of PHP Ternary operator clarification, What is this assignment construct called? And can you do it in Php? — outis
– outis, Commented Apr 1, 2012 at 5:43

lonesomeday · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-23 18:55:40Z

56

You can use the ternary operator ?:.

If you have PHP 5.3, this is very elegant:

$someString = $someEmptyString ?: 'new text value';

Before 5.3, it needs to be a bit more verbose:

$someString = $someEmptyString ? $someEmptyString : 'new text value';

answered Jun 23, 2011 at 18:55

lonesomeday

239k54 gold badges330 silver badges329 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

6 Comments

Haozhun Over a year ago

What happens with '0' here?

lonesomeday Over a year ago

@Haozhun The condition fails. Truth table here.

Haozhun Over a year ago

Does this mean the answer contains a subtle bug?

lonesomeday Over a year ago

@Haozhun Not sure if it's a bug. The falsiness of '0' is fairly standard PHP behaviour.

lonesomeday Over a year ago

I'm not going to revise the answer, because it would render it pointless. You'd have to do empty($someEmptyString) ? 'new text value' : $someEmptyString, which is not very helpful code. But you make a good point which should be borne in mind if you're using this code.

|

Michael Brevig · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-23 19:01:02Z

5

$someString = (!isSet( $someEmptyString ) || empty( $someEmptyString ) )? "new text value" : $someEmptyString;

I think that would be the most correct way to do this. Check if that var is empty or if it's not set and run condition.

it's still a bit of code, but you shouldn't get any PHP warnings or errors when executed.

answered Jun 23, 2011 at 19:01

Michael Brevig

1093 bronze badges

1 Comment

mickmackusa Over a year ago

Why check both isset() and !empty()

Dan Simon · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-23 18:56:05Z

3

You can use the ternary operator

$someString = $someEmptyString ?: "New Text Value";

answered Jun 23, 2011 at 18:56

Dan Simon

13.2k3 gold badges52 silver badges55 bronze badges

Comments

exussum · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-22 13:00:30Z

0

While ternary is more clear whats happening, You can also set the variable like this

($someString = $someEmptyString) || ($someString = "Default");

Works in all PHP versions, You can extend this to use more than 1 option failry easily also

($someString = $someEmptyString) ||
($someString = $someOtherEmptyString) ||
($someString = "Default");

which I personally find more readable than its ternary equivalent

answered May 22, 2015 at 13:00

exussum

18.6k8 gold badges35 silver badges67 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to set default value to a string in PHP if another string is empty?

4 Answers 4

6 Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

6 Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related