Why to check both isset() and !empty() function in PHP ?

isset() Function

The isset() function is an inbuilt function in PHP which checks whether a variable is set and is not NULL. This function also checks if a declared variable, array or array key has null value, if it does, isset() returns false, it returns true in all other possible cases.

Syntax:

bool isset( $var, mixed )

Parameters: This function accepts more than one parameters. The first parameter of this function is $var. This parameter is used to store the value of variable.

Example:

PHP

<?php

// PHP program to illustrate
// isset() function
$num = '0';

if( isset( $num ) ) {
    print_r(" $num is set with isset function <br>");
}

// Declare an empty array
$array = array();

// Use isset function
echo isset($array['geeks']) ?
'array is set.' :  'array is not set.';
?>

Output:

0 is set with isset function 
array is not set.

empty() Function

The empty() function is a language construct to determine whether the given variable is empty or NULL. The !empty() function is the negation or complement of empty() function. The empty() function is considerably equal to !isset() function and !empty() function is equal to isset() function.

Example:

PHP

<?php

// PHP program to illustrate
// empty() function

$temp = 0;

// It returns true because
// $temp is empty
if (empty($temp)) {
    echo $temp . ' is considered empty';
}

echo "\n";

// It returns true since $new exist
$new = 1;
if (!empty($new)) {
    echo $new . ' is considered set';
}
?>

Output:

0 is considered empty
1 is considered set

Reason to check both function:
The isset() and !empty() functions are similar and both will return the same results. But the only difference is !empty() function will not generate any warning or e-notice when the variable does not exists. It is enough to use either of the function. By incorporating both functions in a program causes time lapse and unnecessary memory usage.

Example:

PHP

<?php

// PHP function to demonstrate isset()
// and !empty() function

// initialize a variable
$num = '0';

// Check isset() function
if( isset ( $num ) ) {
    print_r( $num . " is set with isset function");
}

// Display new line
echo "\n";

// Initialize a variable
$num = 1;

// Check the !empty() function
if( !empty ( $num ) ) {
    print_r($num . " is set with !empty function");
}

Output:

0 is set with isset function
1 is set with !empty function

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.