When working on projects with PHP/Laravel, I always look for ways to write cleaner, more readable, and more efficient code. Do you think the same way? If so, you’re in the right place!
Today, I want to share with you some of the most useful operators in PHP and the concept of “falsy” values. By using these operators, you can both simplify your code and improve its performance. Ready? Let’s get started!
<hr>
<h3>(<code>??</code>): Null Coalescing Operator</h3>
In PHP, the <code>??</code> operator is a perfect tool for checking whether a variable is set or whether it holds a <code>null</code> value. It’s particularly handy when working with form data or array keys, allowing you to say goodbye to long <code>if-else</code> blocks.
Example:
<pre><code class="language-php">&lt;?php
// If the username hasn&#x27;t been submitted, set it to &#x27;Guest&#x27;
$username = $_GET[&#x27;username&#x27;] ?? &#x27;Guest&#x27;;
echo $username;
?&gt;
</code></pre>
In this snippet, if <code>$_GET['username']</code> is not defined or is <code>null</code>, the <code>$username</code> variable will be assigned the value <code>'Guest'</code>. Short and sweet, right?
<h3>(<code>??=</code>): Null Coalescing Assignment Operator</h3>
The <code>??=</code> operator checks if a variable is set and not <code>null</code>; if it is <code>null</code> or not set, it assigns a value to it. This makes assigning default values even easier.
Example:
<pre><code class="language-php">&lt;?php
$config[&#x27;timezone&#x27;] ??= &#x27;Europe/Istanbul&#x27;;
echo $config[&#x27;timezone&#x27;]; // If it wasn’t assigned before, &#x27;Europe/Istanbul&#x27; is now assigned
?&gt;
</code></pre>
This operator is a great way to set default values in configuration files.
<h3>(<code>?:</code>) Ternary Operator and the Elvis Operator</h3>
The ternary operator in PHP is ideal for simple conditional statements. With its concise and understandable syntax, it provides an alternative to <code>if-else</code> blocks. It’s also known as the “Elvis Operator” in PHP.
Example:
<pre><code class="language-php">&lt;?php
// If age is greater than 18, print &#x27;Adult&#x27;; otherwise, &#x27;Child&#x27;
$age = 20;
$type = ($age &gt;= 18) ? &#x27;Adult&#x27; : &#x27;Child&#x27;; // (? :) Ternary Operator

// Check if &#x27;username&#x27; is set in the incoming data, if not, assign &#x27;Guest&#x27;
$username = $_GET[&#x27;username&#x27;] ?: &#x27;Guest&#x27;; // (?:) Elvis Operator
?&gt;
</code></pre>
It’s both readable and concise, making it extremely useful!
<h3>The Subtle Differences Between <code>??</code> and <code>?:</code></h3>
Perhaps the most frequently asked question: What are the differences between the <code>??</code> and <code>?:</code> operators? Let’s compare these two in detail.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Feature</th>
<th><code>??</code> Operator</th>
<th><code>?:</code> Operator</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Condition Checked</td>
<td>Only <code>null</code></td>
<td>Any “falsy” value (<code>false</code>, <code>0</code>, <code>''</code>, etc.)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Use Case</td>
<td>Default value assignments, null checks</td>
<td>General condition checks, handling of “falsy” values</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Short Syntax</td>
<td><code>$a = $b ?? 'default';</code></td>
<td><code>$a = $b ?: 'default';</code></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chaining</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Yes</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
When Should You Use Which?
<ul>
<li><code>??</code> Operator: Use it when you want to check whether a variable is set and not <code>null</code>. It’s ideal for assigning default values, especially in form data or array keys.</li>
<li><code>?:</code> Operator: Use it for general conditional checks where you also consider “falsy” values. It’s perfect for situations like checking if user input is empty.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Are “Falsy” Values?</h3>
In programming, “falsy” values are those that evaluate to <code>false</code> in a boolean context. In PHP, these values are:
<ol>
<li><code>false</code></li>
<li><code>0</code> (integer)</li>
<li><code>0.0</code> (float)</li>
<li><code>&quot;&quot;</code> (empty string)</li>
<li><code>&quot;0&quot;</code> (string)</li>
<li><code>[]</code> (empty array)</li>
<li><code>NULL</code></li>
</ol>
NOTE: A string containing a space, <code>&quot; &quot;</code>, is not considered falsy in PHP; therefore, strings with spaces are treated as “truthy.”
Why Is This Important?
“Falsy” values help you simplify your code by allowing you to use variables directly in conditional statements. This way, you can avoid unnecessary comparisons and write cleaner, more readable code.
Example:
<pre><code class="language-php">&lt;?php
$username = null;

if ($username) {
 echo &quot;Username is set.&quot;;
} else {
 echo &quot;No username.&quot;;
}
// Output: No username.
?&gt;
</code></pre>
<h3>Learn Through Practical Examples</h3>
<h4>1. User Login Check</h4>
<pre><code class="language-php">&lt;?php
// Assume the username comes from a form
$username = $_POST[&#x27;username&#x27;] ?? &#x27;Guest&#x27;;

// Check the username
$status = $username ? &#x27;Logged In&#x27; : &#x27;Not Logged In&#x27;;

echo &quot;Username: &quot; . $username . &quot; - Status: &quot; . $status;
?&gt;
</code></pre>
In this example, if the username wasn’t submitted, <code>'Guest'</code> is assigned, and a message is displayed accordingly.
<h4>2. Setting Default Values in a Config File</h4>
<pre><code class="language-php">&lt;?php
$config = [];

// If &#x27;timezone&#x27; is not set, assign it &#x27;Europe/Istanbul&#x27;
$config[&#x27;timezone&#x27;] ??= &#x27;Europe/Istanbul&#x27;;

// If &#x27;debug&#x27; is not set, assign false
$config[&#x27;debug&#x27;] ??= false;

echo &quot;Timezone: &quot; . $config[&#x27;timezone&#x27;] . &quot;, Debug: &quot; . ($config[&#x27;debug&#x27;] ? &#x27;On&#x27; : &#x27;Off&#x27;);
?&gt;
</code></pre>
In this code snippet, default values for configuration settings are defined.
<h4>3. Using “Falsy” Values in a Search Function</h4>
<pre><code class="language-php">&lt;?php
// Assume the search term comes from a query parameter
$searchTerm = $_GET[&#x27;search&#x27;] ?? &#x27;All Records&#x27;;

// Check the search term
$searchQuery = $searchTerm ?: &#x27;All Records&#x27;;

echo &quot;Search Term: &quot; . $searchQuery;
?&gt;
</code></pre>
Here, if the search term is empty or any other “falsy” value, <code>'All Records'</code> is assigned by default.
<h2>It’s in Your Hands to Write Smarter, More Efficient PHP Code</h2>
Making effective use of PHP’s <code>??</code>, <code>??=</code>, and <code>?:</code> operators will help you write more readable, concise, and efficient code. Additionally, understanding “falsy” values allows you to write smarter and more flexible conditional statements.
<h3>Suggestions:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Choose the Right Operator: Use the <code>??</code> operator exclusively for <code>null</code> checks and the <code>?:</code> operator for general condition checks.</li>
<li>Prioritize Code Readability: When using these operators, ensure your code remains understandable and maintainable.</li>
<li>Don’t Forget to Test: Make sure to test your code to confirm that these operators behave as expected.</li>
</ul>
By using these operators in your projects, you can enhance code quality and develop more professional PHP solutions. Give them a try and see the difference for yourself!
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PHP Dev

Discover the benefits and use cases of PHP's `??`, `??=`, and `?:` operators to write cleaner, more efficient code. Learn to handle 'falsy' values effectively for more readable and maintainable code. Practical examples demonstrate how to implement these operators in real-world scenarios.

??, ??=, ?: x Operators and “Falsy” Values in PHP

shorter code does not always mean better readability, stark reminder, regular expressions, short for sure, good luck reading them and understanding what they do

Why?
<pre><code>&lt;?php
// If the username hasn&#x27;t been submitted, set it to &#x27;Guest&#x27;
$username = $_GET[&#x27;username&#x27;] ?? &#x27;Guest&#x27;;
echo $username;
?&gt;
</code></pre>
just
<pre><code>echo $_GET[&#x27;username&#x27;] ?? &#x27;Guest&#x27;;
</code></pre>
And this is not perfect:
<pre><code>&lt;?php
$config = [];

// If &#x27;timezone&#x27; is not set, assign it &#x27;Europe/Istanbul&#x27;
$config[&#x27;timezone&#x27;] ??= &#x27;Europe/Istanbul&#x27;;

// If &#x27;debug&#x27; is not set, assign false
$config[&#x27;debug&#x27;] ??= false;

echo &quot;Timezone: &quot; . $config[&#x27;timezone&#x27;] . &quot;, Debug: &quot; . ($config[&#x27;debug&#x27;] ? &#x27;On&#x27; : &#x27;Off&#x27;);
?&gt;
</code></pre>
(at least do not use double quotes if it is not necessary)
It will suit my taste
<pre><code>&lt;?php
$config = [];
$timezone = $config[&#x27;timezone&#x27;] ?? &#x27;Europe/Istanbul&#x27;;
$debug = isset($config[&#x27;debug&#x27;]) ? &#x27;On&#x27; : &#x27;Off&#x27;;
echo &quot;Timezone: $timezone, Debug: $debug&quot;;
?&gt;
</code></pre>

In my experience developing apps with Laravel, a clear vision on what logic I want to write will help me decide in what approach I will write the code. If the logic is more complex, usually I won’t use operators, but if logic is simple then using operators can help to prevent me scrolling wall of text.
Another thing that will help when using operator:
<ol>
<li>Use clear variable name.</li>
<li>Add a little bit comment to explain in simple term what is this logic about.
Those two things will save time when I need to debug or modify the logic.</li>
</ol>