How to check if an array is empty in PHP

Table Of Contents

• Introduction
• 1. Using the empty() function
• 2. Using the count() function
• 3. Using the === [] expression
• Conclusion

Introduction

As a PHP Developer, I frequently encounter the task of verifying if an array is empty while writing PHP code. In this article, we'll delve into several effective methods for checking the emptiness of a PHP array.

1. Using the empty() function

My most favourite and straightforward way of checking if a PHP array is empty is by using the empty() function. This is a PHP built-in function used for checking if a variable is empty and it does so for arrays too.

If the array is empty, the function will return true

        
          $cars = [];
          $is_empty = empty($cars);  // true
        
      

If the array is not empty, the function will return false.

        
          $cars = ['subaru', 'jeep', 'ford'];
          $is_empty = empty($cars); // false
        
      

2. Using the count() function

The count() function counts the number of elements in an array and it returns 0 if the array is empty.

        
          $cars = [];
          if(count($cars) == 0){
            // array is empty
          }else{
            // array is not empty
          }
        
      

3. Using the === [] expression

This simple expression also checks if the variable is an empty array and not an integer or a string.

The expression returns true if the array is empty.

        
          $cars = [];
          $is_empty = $cars === []; // true
        
      

The expression returns false if the array is not empty

        
           $cars = ['subaru', 'jeep', 'ford'];
           $is_empty = $cars === []; // false
        
      

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored various ways of checking if a PHP array is empty, including the use of the empty() function, the count() function and the === [ ] expression

Thanks and best wishes.