PHP shorthand for "if (!isset($var)) $var = 1;"

Question

Is there a shorthand version for, "if this variable isn't set yet, then set it"?

Example:

switch ($Frequency) {
    case 'Once':
        doSomethingSpecific();
        break;
    case 'Daily':
        $Message = 'Event will occur every day at the same time.';
    case 'Weekly':
        if (!isset($Message)) $Message = 'Event will occur every week on the same day of the week, at the same time.';
    case 'Monthly':
        if (!isset($Message)) $Message = 'Event will occur every month on the same day of the week.';
        doSomething($Message);
        break;
}

IMHO, this could be written better to be more clear about what you are doing. I would suggest to check if `$Frequency == "Once"` then `doSomethingSpecific()` else then set the message and call `doSomething()` at the end. — Jonathan Kuhn, Jan 16 '14 at 22:21

score 6 · Accepted Answer · edited Jan 16 '14 at 22:24

6

Yes it's called the ternary operator:

$var = isset($var) ? $var : "Some default";

Since PHP 5.3 there's a shorthand version for this as well:

$var = isset($var) ?: "Some default";

And an alternate version for PHP 5.3+:

isset($var) ?: $var = "Some default";

edited Jan 16 '14 at 22:24

Nathan J.B.

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answered Jan 16 '14 at 22:15

PHP shorthand for "if (!isset($var)) $var = 1;"

1 Answers1