Check if a field array is empty?

Question

I want if value field txtname was empty echo It is ok but it don't work in my code(if field was empty and click on button you see output with print_r(...)), Please see my demo and my code. what do I do?

Demo: http://codepad.viper-7.com/FNWcIs

<form method="post">
    <input name="txtname[]">
    <button>Click Me</button>
</form>
<?php
    if ($_POST) {
        $txtname = $_POST['txtname'];
        if (!empty($txtname)) {
            echo '<pre>';
            print_r($txtname); // Output this is: Array ( [0] => )
        } else {
            echo 'it is ok';
        }
    } 
?>

@ Truth - See here: codepad.viper-7.com/UXe1ZC and click on button Click Me — Miranda Kelly
– Miranda Kelly, Commented Nov 5, 2011 at 10:35

hakre · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-05 09:49:51Z

2

$txtname or ($_POST['txtname']) is an array with one element. Even that element is empty, empty() returns TRUE for any array that has one or more elements.

That should explain the behavior of your code.

To achieve what you're looking for, change the HTML:

From:

<input name="txtname[]">

To:

<input name="txtname">

If you don't use the brackets, it will be a string. And empty will return FALSE if it is empty. See Variables From External Sources ^{PHP Manual}.

answered Nov 5, 2011 at 9:49

hakre

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Comments

pinaldesai · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-05 09:57:58Z

2

change input field name to txtname like show below.

<input name="txtname">

Or if you want to use array of textboxes try below code.

<form method="post">
    <input name="txtname[]">
    <input name="txtname[]">
    <input name="txtname[]">
    <button>Click Me</button>
</form>
<?php
    if($_POST){
        $txtname       = $_POST['txtname'];

            foreach($txtname   as $key=>$value)
            {
                if(!empty($value)){
                    echo '<br>'.$value; // Output this is: Array ( [0] => )
                }else{
                    echo '<br>it is ok';
                }
            }
    }
?>

edited Nov 5, 2011 at 9:57

answered Nov 5, 2011 at 9:49

pinaldesai

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Comments

Cheruiyot Felix · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-05 10:15:12Z

1

You can try it this way it works if you are not intending to pass one value to the variable $txtname

`

    $txtname       = $_POST['txtname'];
    if($txtname[0]){
        echo '<pre>';
                print_r($txtname); // Output this is: Array ( [0] => )
            }else{
                echo 'it is ok';
            }
}

?>`

answered Nov 5, 2011 at 10:15

Cheruiyot Felix

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