Check whether POST array is empty

Question

I am checking $_POST arrays, but I cannot find a way to check whether the array is empty. Does anyone know how I can check this. I have tried !empty() and isset(), but both ways returning true.

My HTML form with a select box, text field and submit button:

<form method="post">
    <select name="product_name[]">
      <option value="Camera">Camera</option>
      <option value="Radio">Radio</option>
      <option value="Television">Television</option>
    </select>
    <input name="product_price[]" />

    <input type="submit" name="submit">
</form>

My PHP:

if( ! empty( $_POST['product_name'] ) && ! empty( $_POST['product_price'] ) ) {

    print_r( $_POST['product_name'] );
    print_r( $_POST['product_price'] );
}

Return:

Array ( [0] => Camera ) 
Array ( [0] => )

Possible duplicate of: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3496971/check-if-post-exists — ZvL, Dec 12 '14 at 11:42
try `sizeof($array)>0` to determine if array values more than 0 — Alex, Dec 12 '14 at 11:44

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 12 '14 at 11:45

3

Its an array so you need to use array_filter to get rid of empty strings.

if(!empty($_POST['product_name']) && array_filter($_POST['product_price'])){    
    print_r( $_POST['product_name']);
    print_r( $_POST['product_price']);
}

Check here.

answered Dec 12 '14 at 11:45

Rikesh

26,156
14
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87

2

Please don't use `empty(array_filter())`, just `array_filter` will do just fine. In fact, your code throws errors in PHP < 5.5. – deceze Dec 12 '14 at 11:46

Jazi · Answer 2 · 2014-12-12T11:51:38.480

1

Maybe You should just add default first option as empty string? And don't name inputs like product_name[]. Change it to product_name.

<form method="post">
    <select name="product_name">
        <option value="">-</option>
        <option value="Camera">Camera</option>
        <option value="Radio">Radio</option>
        <option value="Television">Television</option>
    </select>
    <input name="product_price" type="text" />

    <input type="submit" name="submit">
</form>

If that first option will be chosen, empty() function should return TRUE.

edited Dec 12 '14 at 11:51

answered Dec 12 '14 at 11:42

Jazi

6,569
13
60
92

if you change the statement of the select from `product_name[]` to `product_name` it will not return an array anymore – Alex Dec 12 '14 at 11:45
1

And for what You need `input` type `text` as array? And... if You need `select` to have multiple values, You just simply add `multiple` attribute (http://www.w3schools.com/tags/att_select_multiple.asp). – Jazi Dec 12 '14 at 11:47

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 12 '14 at 11:45

You have declared product_name[](hence array empty will return TRUE if option 1 is selected) you would have to change it to product_name

<form method="post">
    <select name="product_name">
      <option value="">-</option>
      <option value="Camera">Camera</option>
      <option value="Radio">Radio</option>
      <option value="Television">Television</option>
    </select>
    <input name="product_price" />

    <input type="submit" name="submit">
</form>

Manoj Sharma · Answer 4 · 2014-12-12T12:04:20.107

-2

Ok, I found the solution. Previous answer was wrong hope this will help you:

<form method="post">
    <select name="product_name[]">
      <option value="Camera">Camera</option>
      <option value="Radio">Radio</option>
      <option value="Television">Television</option>
    </select>
    <input name="product_price[]" />

    <input type="submit" name="submit">
</form> 

<?php

if( !empty( $_POST['product_name'] ) && !count( array_filter($_POST['product_price'])) ==0 ) {

    print_r( $_POST['product_name'] );
    print_r( $_POST['product_price'] );
}
?>

edited Dec 12 '14 at 12:04

answered Dec 12 '14 at 11:41

Manoj Sharma

596
1
6
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@Unskilled Not if the array is "empty", i.e. `array()`. – deceze Dec 12 '14 at 11:43
@Robbert Please check and let me know is it correct and resolve your problem. – Manoj Sharma Dec 12 '14 at 12:05
Anybody who doing down vote first check the code and then vote down. As i have run this code and it is working. – Manoj Sharma Dec 12 '14 at 12:21

Check whether POST array is empty

4 Answers4