A PHP isset, empty, and is null helper function comparison with a table for variables and common types.
Quick rundown
isset() returns true when the variable has a value, is not null or a declared and not assigned variable.
empty() empty returns true for an empty string, null, 0 as string and int or false.
is_null() will return true only for a null value or when the variable is declared but not assigned.
Summary
Isset is the opposite of is_null, it can be applied to unknown variables to check if they “are set”. is_null can only be used on variables that exist and serves as a method for variables that exist but are not assigned or are null. Empty can be seen as a type of middle ground.
Comparison table
Using PHP version 8.0.0
| $var value | isset($var) | empty($var) | is_null($var) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ” (empty) | bool(true) | bool(true) | bool(false) |
| ‘ ‘ (space) | bool(true) | bool(false) | bool(false) |
| false | bool(true) | bool(true) | bool(false) |
| true | bool(true) | bool(false) | bool(false) |
| array() | bool(true) | bool(true) | bool(false) |
| null | bool(false) | bool(true) | bool(true) |
| ‘0’ | bool(true) | bool(true) | bool(false) |
| 0 | bool(true) | bool(true) | bool(false) |
| 0.0 | bool(true) | bool(true) | bool(false) |
| $var; | bool(false) | bool(true) | bool(true) |