How to check whether an array is empty using PHP?

An empty array can sometimes cause software crash or unexpected outputs. To avoid this, it is better to check whether an array is empty or not beforehand. There are various methods and functions available in PHP to check whether the defined or given array is an empty or not. Some of them are given below:

1. Using empty() Function: This function determines whether a given variable is empty. This function does not return a warning if a variable does not exist.

   Syntax:

   bool empty( $var )

   Example:

   <?php
   
   // Declare an array and initialize it
   $non_empty_array = array('URL' => 'https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/');
   
   // Declare an empty array
   $empty_array = array();
   
   // Condition to check array is empty or not
   if(!empty($non_empty_array))
       echo "Given Array is not empty <br>";
   
   if(empty($empty_array))
       echo "Given Array is empty";
   ?>
   Output:

   Given Array is not empty 
   Given Array is empty
   

2. Using count Function: This function counts all the elements in an array. If number of elements in array is zero, then it will display empty array.

   Syntax:

   int count( $array_or_countable )

   Example:

   <?php
   
   // Declare an empty array
   $empty_array = array();
   
   // Function to count array
   // element and use condition
   if(count($empty_array) == 0)
       echo "Array is empty";
   else
       echo "Array is non- empty";
   ?>
   Output:

   Array is empty
   

3. Using sizeof() function: This method check the size of array. If the size of array is zero then array is empty otherwise array is not empty.

   Example:

   <?php
   
   // Declare an empty array
   $empty_array = array();
   
   // Use array index to check
   // array is empty or not
   if( sizeof($empty_array) == 0 )
       echo "Empty Array";
   else
       echo "Non-Empty Array";
   ?>
   Output:

   Empty Array
   

PHP is a server-side scripting language designed specifically for web development. You can learn PHP from the ground up by following this PHP Tutorial and PHP Examples.