26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

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http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 1/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

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http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 2/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

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print_r
is_string

ManualdePHP
Referenciadefunciones
Extensionesrelacionadasconvariableytipo
Manejodevariables
Funcionesdemanejodevariables

Changelanguage: Spanish
EditReportaBug

isset
(PHP4,PHP5,PHP7)

issetDeterminasiunavariableestdefinidaynoesNULL

Descripcin

boolisset(mixed$var[,mixed$...])

DeterminasiunavariableestdefinidaynoesNULL.

Siunavariablehasidoremovidaconunset(),estayanoestardefinida.isset()devolverFALSEsipruebauna
variablequehasidodefinidacomoNULL.TambintengaencuentaqueunbyteNULL("\0")noesequivalenteala
constanteNULLdePHP.

Sisonpasadosvariosparmetros,entoncesisset()devolverTRUEnicamentesitodoslosparmetrosestn
definidos.Laevaluacinserealizadeizquierdaaderechaysedetienetanprontocomoseencuentreuna
variablenodefinida.

Parmetros
var

Lavariableaserevaluada.

...

Otravariable...

Valoresdevueltos

DevuelveTRUEsivarexisteytieneunvalordistintodeNULL,FALSEdelocontrario.
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 3/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

Historialdecambios

Versin Descripcin

5.4.0 ComprobacindeindicesnonumricosdestringsahoraretornaFALSE.

Ejemplos

Ejemplo#1Ejemplosisset()

<?php

$var='';

//EstoevaluaraTRUEasqueeltextoseimprimir.
if(isset($var)){
echo"Estavariableestdefinida,asqueseimprimir";
}

//Enlossiguientesejemplousaremosvar_dumpparaimprimir
//elvalordevueltoporisset().

$a="prueba";
$b="otraprueba";

var_dump(isset($a));//TRUE
var_dump(isset($a,$b));//TRUE

unset($a);

var_dump(isset($a));//FALSE
var_dump(isset($a,$b));//FALSE

$foo=NULL;
var_dump(isset($foo));//FALSE

?>

Tambintrabajaconelementosenmatrices:

<?php

$a=array('test'=>1,'hello'=>NULL,'pie'=>array('a'=>'apple'));

var_dump(isset($a['test']));//TRUE
var_dump(isset($a['foo']));//FALSE
var_dump(isset($a['hello']));//FALSE

//Laclave'helo'esigualaNULLasquenoseconsideradefinida
//SideseacomprobarlosvaloresNULLclave,intente:
var_dump(array_key_exists('hello',$a));//TRUE

http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 4/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

//Comprobandovaloresdearraysconmsprofunidad
var_dump(isset($a['pie']['a']));//TRUE
var_dump(isset($a['pie']['b']));//FALSE
var_dump(isset($a['cake']['a']['b']));//FALSE

?>

Notas
Advertencia

isset()slotrabajaconvariables,yaquepasarcualquierotracosadarcomoresultadounerrordeintrprete.
Paracomprobarsisehandefinidoconstantesuselafuncindefined().

Nota:Puestoqueestoesunaconstruccindellenguajeynounafuncin,nopuedeserllamada
usandofuncionesvariables.

Nota:

Cuandoseutilizaisset()sobrelaspropiedadesdeobjetosinaccesibles,elmtodosobrecargado
__isset()serllamado,sisedeclara.

Ejemplo#2isset()enindicesdeString

PHP5.4cambiaahoraelcomportamiendodeisset()cuandosonpasadosindicesdestring.

<?php
$expected_array_got_string='somestring';
var_dump(isset($expected_array_got_string['some_key']));
var_dump(isset($expected_array_got_string[0]));
var_dump(isset($expected_array_got_string['0']));
var_dump(isset($expected_array_got_string[0.5]));
var_dump(isset($expected_array_got_string['0.5']));
var_dump(isset($expected_array_got_string['0Mostel']));
?>

SalidadelejemploanteriorenPHP5.3:

bool(true)
bool(true)
bool(true)
bool(true)
bool(true)
bool(true)

SalidadelejemploanteriorenPHP5.4:

bool(false)
bool(true)
bool(true)
bool(true)
bool(false)
bool(false)

Vertambin

http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 5/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

empty()Determinasiunavariableestvaca
__isset()
unset()Destruyeunavariableespecificada
defined()Compruebasiexisteunaconstanteconnombredada
lastablasdecomparacindetipos
array_key_exists()Verificasielndiceoclavedadaexisteenelarray
is_null()CompruebasiunavariableesNULL
eloperador@decontroldeerrores

addanote

UserContributedNotes52notes
up
down
3
p_ignorethis_lbowersatgmaildotcom
6monthsago
I,too,wasdismayedtofindthatisset($foo)returnsfalseif($foo==null).Here'san(awkward)
wayaroundit.

unset($foo);
if(compact('foo')!=array()){
do_your_thing();
}

Ofcourse,thatisverynonintuitive,long,hardtounderstand,andkludgy.Bettertodesignyour
codesoyoudon'tdependonthedifferencebetweenanunsetvariableandavariablewiththevalue
null.But"better"onlybecausePHPhasmadethisweirddevelopmentchoice.

InmythinkingthiswasamistakeinthedevelopmentofPHP.Thename("isset")shoulddescribethe
functionandnothavethedesciptionbe"issetANDisnotnull".Ifitwasdoneproperlya
programmercouldveryeasilydo(isset($var)||is_null($var))iftheywantedtocheckforthis!

Avariablesettonullisadifferentstatethanavariablenotsetthereshouldbesomeeasyway
todifferentiate.Justmy(pointless)$0.02.
up
down
49
beucatbeucdotnet
10yearsago
"empty()istheoppositeof(boolean)var,exceptthatnowarningisgeneratedwhenthevariableis
notset."

Soessentially
<?php
if(isset($var)&&$var)
?>
isthesameas
<?php
if(!empty($var))
?>
doesn'tit?:)

http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 6/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

!empty()mimicsthechk()functionpostedbefore.
up
down
45
yaogzhanatgmaildotcom
12yearsago
inPHP5,ifyouhave

<?PHP
classFoo
{
protected$data=array('bar'=>null);

function__get($p)
{
if(isset($this>data[$p]))return$this>data[$p];
}
}
?>

and
<?PHP
$foo=newFoo;
echoisset($foo>bar);
?>
willalwaysecho'false'.becausetheisset()acceptsVARIABLESasitparameters,butinthiscase,
$foo>barisNOTaVARIABLE.itisaVALUEreturnedfromthe__get()methodoftheclassFoo.thus
theisset($foo>bar)expreesionwillalwaysequal'false'.
up
down
28
DanielKlein
4yearsago
Howtotestforavariableactuallyexisting,includingbeingsettonull.Thiswillpreventerrors
whenpassingtofunctions.

<?php
//false
var_export(
array_key_exists('myvar',get_defined_vars())
);

$myvar;
//false
var_export(
array_key_exists('myvar',get_defined_vars())
);

$myvar=null;
//true
var_export(
array_key_exists('myvar',get_defined_vars())
);
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 7/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

unset($myvar);
//false
var_export(
array_key_exists('myvar',get_defined_vars())
);

if(array_key_exists('myvar',get_defined_vars())){
myfunction($myvar);
}
?>

Note:youcan'tturnthisintoafunction(e.g.is_defined($myvar))becauseget_defined_vars()only
getsthevariablesinthecurrentscopeandenteringafunctionchangesthescope.
up
down
23
muratyamanatgmaildotcom
9yearsago
Toorganizesomeofthefrequentlyusedfunctions..

<?php

/**
*Returnsfieldofvariable(arr[key]orobj>prop),otherwisethethirdparameter
*@paramarray/object$arr_or_obj
*@paramstring$key_or_prop
*@parammixed$else
*/
functionnz($arr_or_obj,$key_or_prop,$else){
$result=$else;
if(isset($arr_or_obj)){
if(is_array($arr_or_obj){
if(isset($arr_or_obj[$key_or_prop]))
$result=$arr_or_obj[$key_or_prop];
}elseif(is_object($arr_or_object))
if(isset($arr_or_obj>$key_or_prop))
$result=$arr_or_obj>$key_or_prop;
}
}
return$result;
}

/**
*Returnsintegervalueusingnz()
*/
functionnz_int($arr_or_obj,$key_or_prop,$else){
returnintval(nz($arr_or_obj,$key_or_prop,$else));
}

$my_id=nz_int($_REQUEST,'id',0);
if($my_id>0){
//why?

http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 8/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

}
?>
up
down
21
Anonymous
10yearsago
ItriedtheexamplepostedpreviouslybySlawek:

$foo='alittlestring';
echoisset($foo)?'yes':'no',isset($foo['aaaa'])?'yes':'no';

Hegotyesyes,buthedidn'tsaywhatversionofPHPhewasusing.

ItriedthisonPHP5.0.5andgot:yesno

ButonPHP4.3.5Igot:yesyes

Apparently,PHP4convertsthethestring'aaaa'tozeroandthenreturnsthestringcharacteratthat
positionwithinthestring$foo,when$fooisnotanarray.Thatmeansyoucan'tassumeyouare
dealingwithanarray,evenifyouusedanexpressionsuchasisset($foo['aaaa']['bbb']['cc']['d']),
becauseitwillreturntruealsoifanypartisastring.

PHP5doesnotdothis.If$fooisastring,theindexmustactuallybenumeric(e.g.$foo[0])forit
toreturntheindexedcharacter.
up
down
18
SlawekPetrykowski
11yearsago
<?php
$foo='alittlestring';
echoisset($foo)?'yes':'no',isset($foo['aaaa'])?'yes':'no';
>

resultswithunexpectedvalues:
yesyes

Well,itisnecessarytochecktypeof$foofirst!
up
down
15
francoisvespa
6yearsago
Nowthisishowtoachievethesameeffect(ie,havingisset()returningtrueevenifvariablehas
beensettonull)forobjectsandarrays

<?php

//array

$array=array('foo'=>null);

returnisset($array['foo'])||array_key_exists('foo',$array)
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 9/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

?true:false;//returntrue

returnisset($array['inexistent'])||array_key_exists('inexistent',$array)
?true:false;//returnfalse

//staticclass

classbar

{
static$foo=null;
}

returnisset(bar::$foo)||array_key_exists('foo',get_class_vars('bar'))
?true:false;//returntrue

returnisset(bar::$inexistent)||array_key_exists('inexistent',get_class_vars('bar'))
?true:false;//returnfalse

//object

classbar
{
public$foo=null;
}

$bar=newbar();

returnisset($bar>foo)||array_key_exists('foo',get_object_vars($bar))
?true:false;//returntrue

returnisset($bar>inexistent)||array_key_exists('inexistent',get_object_vars($bar))
?true:false;//returntrue

//stdClass

$bar=newstdClass;
$bar>foo=null;

returnisset($bar>foo)||array_key_exists('foo',get_object_vars($bar))
?true:false;//returntrue

returnisset($bar>inexistent)||array_key_exists('inexistent',get_object_vars($bar))
?true:false;//returntrue

?>
up
down
16
AndrewPenry
11yearsago
Thefollowingisanexampleofhowtotestifavariableisset,whetherornotitisNULL.Itmakes
useofthefactthatanunsetvariablewillthrowanE_NOTICEerror,butoneinitializedasNULLwill
not.
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 10/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

<?php

functionvar_exists($var){
if(empty($GLOBALS['var_exists_err'])){
returntrue;
}else{
unset($GLOBALS['var_exists_err']);
returnfalse;
}
}

functionvar_existsHandler($errno,$errstr,$errfile,$errline){
$GLOBALS['var_exists_err']=true;
}

$l=NULL;
set_error_handler("var_existsHandler",E_NOTICE);
echo(var_exists($l))?"True":"False";
echo(var_exists($k))?"True":"False";
restore_error_handler();

?>

Outputs:
TrueFalse

Theproblemis,theset_error_handlerandrestore_error_handlercallscannotbeinsidethefunction,
whichmeansyouneed2extralinesofcodeeverytimeyouaretesting.AndifyouhaveanyE_NOTICE
errorscausedbyothercodebetweentheset_error_handlerandrestore_error_handlertheywillnotbe
dealtwithproperly.Onesolution:

<?php

functionvar_exists($var){
if(empty($GLOBALS['var_exists_err'])){
returntrue;
}else{
unset($GLOBALS['var_exists_err']);
returnfalse;
}
}

functionvar_existsHandler($errno,$errstr,$errfile,$errline){
$filearr=file($errfile);
if(strpos($filearr[$errline1],'var_exists')!==false){
$GLOBALS['var_exists_err']=true;
returntrue;
}else{
returnfalse;
}
}

$l=NULL;
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 11/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

set_error_handler("var_existsHandler",E_NOTICE);
echo(var_exists($l))?"True":"False";
echo(var_exists($k))?"True":"False";
is_null($j);
restore_error_handler();

?>

Outputs:
TrueFalse
Notice:Undefinedvariable:jinfilename.phponline26

Thiswillmakethehandleronlyhandlevar_exists,butitaddsalotofoverhead.Everytimean
E_NOTICEerrorhappens,thefileitoriginatedfromwillbeloadedintoanarray.
up
down
14
mandos78ATmailfromgoogle
8yearsago
Carefulwiththisfunction"ifsetfor"bysoapergem,passingbyreferencemeansthatif,likethe
example$_GET['id'],theargumentisanarrayindex,itwillbecreatedintheoriginalarray(witha
nullvalue),thuscausingposibletroublewiththefollowingcode.AtleastinPHP5.

Forexample:

<?php
$a=array();
print_r($a);
ifsetor($a["unsetindex"],'default');
print_r($a);
?>

willprint

Array
(
)
Array
(
[unsetindex]=>
)

Anyforeachorsimilarwillbedifferentbeforeandafterthecall.
up
down
11
anonymousleafatgmaildotcom
9yearsago
issetexpectsthevariablesignfirst,soyoucan'taddparenthesesoranything.

<?php
$foo=1;
if(isset(($foo))){//Syntaxerroratisset((
$foo=2;
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 12/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

}
?>
up
down
3
andreasonny83atgmaildotcom
1yearago
Hereisanexamplewithmultipleparameterssupplied

<?php
$var=array();
$var['val1']='test';
$var['val2']='on';

if(isset($var['val1'],$var['val2'])&&$var['val2']==='on'){
unset($var['val1']);
}
print_r($var);
?>

Thiswilloutput:
Array
(
[val2]=>on
)

Thefollowingcodedoesthesamecalling"isset"2times:

<?php
$var=array();
$var['val1']='test';
$var['val2']='on';

if(isset($var['val1'])&&isset($var['val2'])&&$var['val2']==='on'){
unset($var['val1']);
}
print_r($var);
?>
up
down
9
adotschaffhirtatsednasoftdotde
8yearsago
Youcansafelyuseissettocheckpropertiesandsubpropertiesofobjectsdirectly.Soinsteadof
writing

isset($abc)&&isset($abc>def)&&isset($abc>def>ghi)

orinashorterform

isset($abc,$abc>def,$abc>def>ghi)

youcanjustwrite

http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 13/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

isset($abc>def>ghi)

withoutraisinganyerrors,warningsornotices.

Examples
<?php
$abc=(object)array("def"=>123);
var_dump(isset($abc));//bool(true)
var_dump(isset($abc>def));//bool(true)
var_dump(isset($abc>def>ghi));//bool(false)
var_dump(isset($abc>def>ghi>jkl));//bool(false)
var_dump(isset($def));//bool(false)
var_dump(isset($def>ghi));//bool(false)
var_dump(isset($def>ghi>jkl));//bool(false)

var_dump($abc);//object(stdClass)#1(1){["def"]=>int(123)}
var_dump($abc>def);//int(123)
var_dump($abc>def>ghi);//null/E_NOTICE:Tryingtogetpropertyofnonobject
var_dump($abc>def>ghi>jkl);//null/E_NOTICE:Tryingtogetpropertyofnonobject
var_dump($def);//null/E_NOTICE:Tryingtogetpropertyofnonobject
var_dump($def>ghi);//null/E_NOTICE:Tryingtogetpropertyofnonobject
var_dump($def>ghi>jkl);//null/E_NOTICE:Tryingtogetpropertyofnonobject
?>
up
down
7
Anlzselgin
7yearsago
Note:Becausethisisalanguageconstructandnotafunction,itcannotbecalledusingvariable
functions.

Sowhyitisunder"VariablehandlingFunctions".Maybethereshouldbesomegooddocumentationfield
forlanguageconstructs.
up
down
8
soywizatphpdotnet
11yearsago
Sometimesyouhavetocheckifanarrayhassomekeys.Toachieveityoucanuse"isset"likethis:
isset($array['key1'],$array['key2'],$array['key3'],$array['key4'])
Youhavetowrite$arrayalltimesanditisreiterativeifyouusesamearrayeachtime.

Withthissimplefunctionyoucancheckifanarrayhassomekeys:

<?php
functionisset_array(){
if(func_num_args()<2)returntrue;
$args=func_get_args();
$array=array_shift($args);
if(!is_array($array))returnfalse;
foreach($argsas$n)if(!isset($array[$n]))returnfalse;
returntrue;
}
?>
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 14/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

Use:isset_array($array,'key1','key2','key3','key4')
Firstparameterhasthearray;followingparametershasthekeysyouwanttocheck.
up
down
4
uramihsayibok,gmail,com
4yearsago
Notethatisset()isnotrecursiveasofthe5.4.8Ihaveavailableheretotestwith:ifyouuseit
onamultidimensionalarrayoranobjectitwillnotcheckisset()oneachdimensionasitgoes.

Imagineyouhaveaclasswithanormal__issetanda__getthatfatalsfornonexistantproperties.
isset($object>nosuch)willbehavenormallybutisset($object>nosuch>foo)willcrash.Ratherharsh
IMObutstillpossible.

<?php

classFatalOnGet{

//pretendthatthemethodshaveimplementationsthatactuallytrytodowork
//inthisexampleIonlycareabouttheworstcaseconditions

publicfunction__get($name){
echo"(getting{$name})";

//ifpropertydoesnotexist{
echo"Propertydoesnotexist!";
exit;
//}
}

publicfunction__isset($name){
echo"(isset{$name}?)";
//returnwhetherthepropertyexists
returnfalse;
}

$obj=newFatalOnGet();

//works
echo"Testingif>nosuchexists:";
if(isset($obj>nosuch))echo"Yes";elseecho"No";

//fatals
echo"\nTestingif>nosuch>fooexists:";
if(isset($obj>nosuch>foo))echo"Yes";elseecho"No";

//notexecuted
echo"\nTestingif>irrelevantexists:";
if(isset($obj>irrelevant))echo"Yes";elseecho"No";

?>
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 15/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

Testingif>nosuchexists:No
Testingif>nosuch>fooexists:Propertydoesnotexist!

Uncommenttheechosinthemethodsandyou'llseeexactlywhathappened:

Testingif>nosuchexists:(issetnosuch?)No
Testingif>nosuch>fooexists:(gettingnosuch)Propertydoesnotexist!

Onasimilarnote,if__getalwaysreturnsbutinsteadissueswarningsornoticesthenthosewill
surface.
up
down
5
CuongHuyTo
6yearsago
1)Notethatisset($var)doesn'tdistinguishthetwocaseswhen$varisundefined,orisnull.
Evidenceisinthefollowingcode.

<?php
unset($undefined);
$null=null;
if(true===isset($undefined)){echo'isset($undefined)===true'}else{echo'isset($undefined)===
false');//'isset($undefined)===false'
if(true===isset($null)){echo'isset($null)===true'}else{echo'isset($null)===false');
//'isset($null)===false'
?>

2)Ifyouwanttodistinguishundefinedvariablewithadefinedvariablewithanullvalue,thenuse
array_key_exist

<?php
unset($undefined);
$null=null;

if(true!==array_key_exists('undefined',get_defined_vars())){echo'$undefineddoesnotexist';}
else{echo'$undefinedexists';}//'$undefineddoesnotexist'
if(true===array_key_exists('null',get_defined_vars())){echo'$nullexists';}else{echo'$null
doesnotexist';}//'$nullexists'
?>
up
down
4
qeremy
5yearsago
Simplesolutionfor:"Fatalerror:Can'tusefunctionreturnvalueinwritecontextin..."

<?php
function_isset($val){returnisset($val);}
?>
up
down
5
Ashus
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 16/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

8yearsago
Notethatarraykeysarecasesensitive.

<?php
$ar['w']=true;

var_dump(isset($ar['w']),
isset($ar['W']));
?>

willreport:
bool(true)bool(false)
up
down
5
randallgirardathotmaildotcom
10yearsago
Theunexpectedresultsofissethasbeenreallyfrustratingtome.Hence,itdoesn'tworkhowyou'd
thinkitwould,(asdocumented)avarcurrentlyinthescopewithanullvaluewillreturnfalse.

Heresaquicksolution,perhapstherearebetterwaysofgoingaboutthis,butheresmysolution...

<?php
functionis_set($varname,$parent=null){
if(!is_array($parent)&&!is_object($parent)){
$parent=$GLOBALS;
}
returnarray_key_exists($varname,$parent);
}
?>

Hence,$varnameshouldbeamixedvalueofvar'stocheckfor,and$parentcanbeanarrayorobject,
whichwilldefaulttotheGLOBALscope.Seethedocumentationofarray_key_existsforfurther
information.

Thiswillallowtocheckifavarisinthecurrentscope,object,orarray...Whetherit'sanull,
false,true,oranyvalue.ItdependsonARRAY_KEY_EXISTSforit'sfunctionalitywhichalsoworks
withObjects.Feelfreetoimproveonthisanyone;D
up
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4
packard_bell_necathotmaildotcom
9yearsago
Note:isset()onlychecksvariablesasanythingelsewillresultinaparseerror.Inotherwords,
thefollowingwillnotwork:isset(trim($name)).

isset()istheoppositeofis_null($var),exceptthatnowarningisgeneratedwhenthevariableis
notset.
up
down
4
talbutt(at)mail(dot)med(dot)upenn(edu)
9yearsago
InPHP5.2.3,reallyreturnstrueifthevariableissettonull.
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 17/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

up
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4
TeeCee
10yearsago
Inresponseto10Feb200606:02,isset($v)isinall(exceptpossiblybuggy)casesequivalentto
!is_null($v).Andno,itdoesn'tactuallytestifavariableissetornotbymydefinition"$vis
setifunset($v)hasnoeffect".

<?php
unset($c);//force$ctobeunset
var_dump($a=&$c);//NULL,butthisactuallysets$aand$ctothe'same'NULL.
var_dump(isset($c));//bool(false)
var_dump($a=5);//int(5)
var_dump($c);//int(5)

unset($c);
var_dump($a=&$c);//NULL
var_dump(isset($c));//bool(false)
unset($c);
var_dump($a=5);//int(5)
var_dump($c);//NULL
?>

Inthefollowingexample,weseeanalternatemethodoftestingifavariableisactuallysetornot:
<?php
var_dump(array_key_exists('c',get_defined_vars()));//false
var_dump(isset($c));//alsofalse
var_dump($c);//manipulate$cabit...
var_dump((string)$c);
var_dump(print_r($c,true));
var_dump($a=$c);
var_dump(array_key_exists('c',get_defined_vars()));//...stillfalse
var_dump($c=NULL);//thissets$c
var_dump(array_key_exists('c',get_defined_vars()));//true!
var_dump(isset($c));//false;isset()stillsaysit'sunset
unset($c);//actuallyunsetit
var_dump(array_key_exists('c',get_defined_vars()));//false
var_dump($a=&$c);
var_dump(array_key_exists('c',get_defined_vars()));//true!
unset($c);//unsetitagain
var_dump(&$c);//&NULL
var_dump(array_key_exists('c',get_defined_vars()));//true!
?>

Obviously,nullvaluestakeupspace(ortheywouldn'tshowupinget_defined_vars).Also,notethat
&$vsets$vtoNULLifitisunset.
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down
3
tomek
8yearsago
Here'sasimplefunctiontotestifthevariableisset:

http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 18/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

<?php
functionis($var)
{
if(!isset($var))returnfalse;
if($var!==false)returntrue;
returnfalse;
}
?>

Nowinsteadofverypopular(butinvalidinmanysituations):

if(!$var)$var=5;

youcanwrite:

if(!is($var))$var=5;
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3
markdotfabrizioatgmaildotcom
8yearsago
Iknowthisisprobablynottherecommendedwaytodothis,butitseemstoworkfineforme.Instead
ofthenormalissetchecktoextractvariablesfromarrays(like$_REQUEST),youcanusethe@prefix
tosquelchanyerrors.

Forexample,insteadof:
<?php
$test=isset($_REQUEST['test'])?$_REQUEST['test']:null;
?>
youcanuse:
<?php
$test=@$_REQUEST['test'];
?>

Itsavessometyping,butdoesn'tgivetheopportunitytoprovideadefaultvalue.If'test'isnot
anassignedkeyfor$_REQUEST,theassignedvaluewillbenull.
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2
benallfreeatgmaildotcom
6yearsago
isset()returnsTRUEifavalueisNULL.Thatseemswrongtomeasthereisnowaytodistinguish
betweenavaluesettoNULLandatrulyundefinedvalue.

Ifyouhavethisprobleminsideaclass,thereisafix:

<?php
classT
{
function__isset($att)
{
$props=get_object_vars($this);
returnarray_key_exists($att,$props);
}
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 19/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

$x=newT();
$x>foo_exists=4;

var_dump(isset($x>foo_exists));//TRUE
var_dump(isset($x>bar_exists));//FALSE
?>
[EDITORthiagoNOTE:Thissnippethasimprovementsby"PaulLashbrook"]
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0
RobertdotVanDellatcbsdotcom
7yearsago
Here'sanicelittlefunctionthatIuseeverywherethat'llhelpwithsettingalternatevaluessoyou
don'thaveabunchofsituationslike:

<?php
if(isset($a))
{
$b=$a;
}
else
{
$b="default";
}

functionisset_or(&$check,$alternate=NULL)
{
return(isset($check))?$check:$alternate;
}

//Exampleusage:
$first_name=isset_or($_POST['first_name'],"Empty");
$total=isset_or($row['total'],0);

?>
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2
marcioatsuhdodotcom
3yearsago
//thinwaytosetavariable
$foo=isset($_POST['foo'])?$_POST['foo']:null;
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1
beucatbeucdotnet
10yearsago
Bewarethatthechk()functionbelowcreatesthevariableorthearrayindexifitdidn'texisted.

<?php
functionchk(&$var){
if(!isset($var))
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 20/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

returnNULL;
else
return$var;
}

echo'<pre>';
$a=array();
var_dump($a);
chk($a['b']);
var_dump($a);
echo'</pre>';

//Gives:
//array
//empty
//
//array
//'b'=>null
?>
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3
onnoatitmazedotcomdotau##php==owh
11yearsago
InPHP4,thefollowingworksasexpected:

<?php
if(isset($obj>thing['key'])){
unset($obj>thing['key']);
}
?>

InPHP5howeveryouwillgetafatalerrorfortheunset().

Theworkaroundis:

<?php
if(is_array($obj>thing)&&isset($obj>thing['key'])){
unset($obj>thing['key']);
}
?>
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5
soapergematgmaildotcom
8yearsago
BelowauserbythenameofScottpostedanisval()function;Ijustwantedtopointoutarevision
tohismethodsinceit'sabitlengthyforwhatitdoes.ThetrickistorealizethatabooleanAND
clausewillterminatewithfalseassoonasitencountersanythingthatevaluatestofalse,andwill
skipoveranyremainingchecks.

Insteadoftakingupthespacetodefineisval(),youcouldjustruninlinecommandsforeach
variableyouneedtocheckthis:

http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 21/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

<?php

$isval=isset($_POST['var'])&&!empty($_POST['var']);

?>

Alsobewarnedthatifyoutrytoencapsulatethisintoafunction,youmightencounterproblems.
It'smeanttostandalone.
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4
pianistsk8eratgmaildotcom
12yearsago
ThisfunctionisveryusefulwhilecallingtotheURLtospecifywhichtemplatetobeusedoncertain
partsofyourapplication.

Hereisanexample...

<?php

$cat=$_GET['c'];
$id=$_GET['id'];
$error='templates/error.tpl';

if(isset($cat))
{
if(isset($id))
{
$var='templates/pics/'.$cat.''.$id.'.tpl';
if(is_file($var))
{
include($var);
}
else
{
include($error);
}
}
else
{
$var='templates/pics/'.$cat.'.tpl';
if(is_file($var))
{
include($var);
}
else
{
include($error);
}
}
}
else
{
include('templates/alternative.'.tpl);
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 22/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

?>

Youcanseeseveralusesoftheissetfunctionbeingusedtospecifywheteratemplateistobe
calleduponornot.ThiscaneasilypreventothergenericPHPerrors.
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6
robertoatspadimdotcomdotbr
10yearsago
test:

<?php
$qnt=100000;
$k=array();
for($i=0;$i<$qnt;$i++)
$k[$i]=1;

echomicrotime()."\n";
for($i=0;$i<$qnt;$i++)if(isset($k[$i]));
echomicrotime()."\n";
for($i=0;$i<$qnt;$i++)if(array_key_exists($i,$k));
echomicrotime()."\n";
for($i=0;$i<$qnt;$i++)if($k[$i]==1);
echomicrotime()."\n";

?>

theinterestingresult:
issetisthefastest
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2
ayyappandotashokatgmaildotcom
1yearago
ReturnValues:
ReturnsTRUEifvarexistsandhasvalueotherthanNULL,FALSEotherwise.

<?php
$a=NULL;
$b=FALSE;//TheoutputwasTRUE.
$c=TRUE;
$d='';
$e="";
if(isset($b)):
echo"TRUE";
else:
echo"FALSE";
endif;
?>
Couldanyoneexplainmeinclarity.
up
down
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 23/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

8
soapergematgmaildotcom
8yearsago
Itispossibletoencapsulateisset()callsinsideyourownfunctionsifyoupassthembyreference
(notetheampersandintheargumentlist)insteadofbyvalue.Aprimeexamplewouldbetheheavily
requested"ifsetor"function,whichwillreturnavaluewhenitisset,otherwiseadefaultvalue
thattheuserspecifiesisused.

<?php

functionifsetor(&$val,$default=null)
{
returnisset($val)?$val:$default;
}

//exampleusage
$id=intval(ifsetor($_GET['id'],0));

?>
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down
4
flobee
3yearsago
KISS:array_key_exists()isoftentheanswer,notisset()
<?php
$array['secure']=null;
if(isset($array['secure'])){
//whathappenshere?
}?>
up
down
8
kariedoo
11yearsago
Before:

//ask,ifisset
$number=isset($_GET['number'])?$_GET['number']:'';
$age=isset($_GET['age'])?$_GET['age']:'';
$street=isset($_GET['street'])?$_GET['street']:'';

After:>it'seasiertoread

//ask,ifisset
$parameter=array('number','age','street');
foreach($parameteras$name)
{
$$name=isset($_GET[$name])?$_GET[$name]:'';
}
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down
8
Anonymous
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 24/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

11yearsago
Idon'tknowifyouguyscanusethisbutifindthispieceofcodeprettyuseful(forreadabillity
atleast):

functionisset_else($&v,$r)
{
if(isset($v))
return$v;
else
return$r;
}

Thiswayyoucango:

$a=4;

$c+=isset_else($a,0);
$c+=isset_else($b,0);

echo$c;

Ofcourse,thiscodewouldworkanyway,butyougetthepoint.
up
down
8
jcdotmichelatsymetriedotcom
12yearsago
Using
isset($array['key'])
isuseful,butbecareful!
using
isset($array['key']['subkey'])
doesn'tworkasonecouldexpect,if$array['key']isastringitseemsthat'subkey'isconvertedto
(integer)0and$array['key']['subkey']isevaluatedasthefirstcharofthestring.
Thesolutionistouse
is_array($array['key'])&&isset($array['key']['subkey'])

Hereisasmallcodetoshowthis:

<?php
$ex=array('one'=>'val1','two'=>'val2');
echo'$ex=';print_r($ex);
echo"<br/>";

echo"isset(\$ex['one']['three']):";
if(isset($ex['one']['three']))
echo'true';
else
echo'false';

echo"<br/>";
echo"is_array(\$ex['one'])&&isset(\$ex['one']['three']):";
if(is_array($ex['one'])&&isset($ex['one']['three']))
echo'true';
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 25/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

else
echo'false';
?>

shows:
$ex=Array([one]=>val1[two]=>val2)
isset($ex['one']['three']):true
is_array($ex['one'])&&isset($ex['one']['three']):false
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3
ohccat163dotcom
1yearago
Whenavariableissetanditsvaluesisnull,isset()returnsfalse.

Youcanusearray_key_exists()tocheckwhetheranullvaluevariableexists.

<?php
$wxc=null;
var_dump(isset($wxc));
var_dump(array_key_exists('wxc',$GLOBALS));
?>

Outputoftheaboveexample:

bool(false)bool(true)
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11
black__rayatmywaydotcom
9yearsago
if(isset($_POST['in_qu']))
{

include("qanda/in_qu.php");
$content.=$message;
include("qanda/view_qanda.php");
}
elseif(isset($_GET['rq']))
{
include("qanda/add_answer.php");
}
elseif(isset($_POST['add_answer']))
{
include("qanda/in_an.php");
$content.=$message;
include("qanda/view_qanda.php");
}
elseif($_GET['act']=='v_qanda'&&!(isset($_GET['rq'])))
{
include("qanda/view_qanda.php");
}
/*
if(isset($_POST['add_answer']))
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 26/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

up
down
12
samb
9yearsago
Checkoutthisifsetorfunction.If$varisset,donothing,otherwise$var=$default.

<?php

$name=ifsetor($name,'defaultname');

functionifsetor(&$var,$default)
{
returnisset($var)?$var:$default);
}

?>
up
down
13
i[at]nemoden[dot]com
6yearsago
Simple,butveryuseful:

<?php
functionissetOr($var,$or=false){
returnisset($var)?$var:$or;
}
?>

Someexamples:
<?php
$a='1';
$b='2';
echoissetOr($a,issetOr($b,3));//1
?>
<?php
$b='2';
echoissetOr($a,issetOr($b,3));//2
?>
<?php
echoissetOr($a,issetOr($b,3));//3
?>
up
down
15
johnatdarvendotcodotuk
5yearsago
Itisworthnotingthatinordertocheckfortheexistenceofakeywithinanarray,regardlessof
it'scontentsoneshouldusearray_key_exists()notisset().

isset()will(correctly)returnfalseifthevalueofyourarraykeyisnull,whichmaybea
perfectlyvalidcondition.
up
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 27/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

down
16
gonchaloxatgmaildotcom
5yearsago
Usefultocheckifthevariablehavesomevalue...speciallyforGETPOSTvariables

<?php
functionisset_or(&$check,$alternate=NULL)
{
return(isset($check))?(empty($check)?$alternate:$check):$alternate;
}

functiongetGETPOST($var)
{
returnisset_or($_GET[$var],isset_or($_POST[$var],"Empty"));
}
?>

Example
echogetGETPOST('na');//Findthenavarriablbygetandpost
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5
ericgatartywebdesigndotcom
1yearago
Ifoundsomethinginterestingwhileworkingwithisset()inPHP5.5+

<?php

$a="foo";
$b="bar";

var_dump(isset($a,$b));//returnstrue

unset($b);

var_dump(isset($a,$b));//returnsfalse(asexpected);

...BUT...
var_dump(!isset($a,$b));//STILLreturnstrue!
up
down
17
jon
13yearsago
SincePHPwillcheckcasesinorder,Ioftenendupusingthisbitofcode:

<?php
if(isset($var)&&$var){
//dosomething
}
?>

Inshort,ifyouhaveerrorreportingon,and$varisnotset,PHPwillgenerateanerrorifyoujust
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 28/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

have:

<?php
if($var){//dosomething}
?>

...but,asnotedelsewhere,willreturnTrueifsettoFalseinthiscase:
<?php
if(isset($var)){//dosomething}
?>

Checkingbothtoseeif$varisset,andthatitequalssomethingotherthanNullorFalseis
somethingIfindveryusefulalotoftimes.If$varisnotset,PHPwillneverexecutethesecond
partof"(isset($var)&&$var)",andthusnevergenerateanerroreither.

Thisalsoworksveryniceforsettingvariableaswell,e.g.:
<?php
$var=(isset($var)&&$var)?$var:'newvalue';
?>
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1
kurdtpageatgmaildotcom
4monthsago
Thenew(asofPHP7)'nullcoalesceoperator'allowsshorthandisset.Youcanuseitlikeso:

<?php
//Fetchesthevalueof$_GET['user']andreturns'nobody'
//ifitdoesnotexist.
$username=$_GET['user']??'nobody';
//Thisisequivalentto:
$username=isset($_GET['user'])?$_GET['user']:'nobody';

//Coalescingcanbechained:thiswillreturnthefirst
//definedvalueoutof$_GET['user'],$_POST['user'],and
//'nobody'.
$username=$_GET['user']??$_POST['user']??'nobody';
?>

Quotedfromhttp://php.net/manual/en/migration70.newfeatures.php#migration70.newfeatures.null
coalesceop
up
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23
davidatthegallagherdotnet
5yearsago
Justtoreiterateonwhateveryonehasalreadysaidbefore,youshouldnotusewrapperfunctionsfor
isset.UsingawrapperfunctionwillgenerateaNoticeunlessyoupasstheunsetvariableby
reference,inwhichcaseitistheequivalenttowritingusing$var===null(whichisalotfaster).
Evenifyoudopassthevariablebyreference,youcouldstillgetnoticesusingmultidimensional
arrayswhereisset()wouldsilentlyreturnfalse.
up
down
26
http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 29/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

jwvdveeratgmaildotcom
8yearsago
Hereashortnoteonthefunctiontomekwrote:
Don'tuseit,becauseitisstillbettertouse!$varthan!is($var).

Somecommentsonthebodyofthefunction:
<?php
functionis($var)
{
if(!isset($var))returnfalse;#Variableisalwaysset...OtherwisePHPwouldhavethrownanerror
oncall.
if($var!==false)returntrue;#So,0,NULL,andsomeothervaluesmaynotbehavelikeisNot?And
whataboutthedifferencebetweenaclassandNULL?
returnfalse;
}
?>

Thereasonwhyyoushallnotusethisfunction:
Notice:Undefinedvariable:{variablename}in{file}online{__LINE__}

It'smeasplainasthenoseonyourfacethatthepieceofcodehasn'tbeentestedwithE_NOTICE.

Somyadviceinthiscaseis:don'tusetheabovefunction,butsimplyuse!,andfunctionssuchlike
is_nullinthesituationtheyaremadefor.
up
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29
phpnetdot5dotreinhold2000attspamgourmetdotcom
12yearsago
ifyouwanttocheckwhethertheuserhassentpostvarsfromaform,itisapaintowritesomething
likethefollowing,sinceisset()doesnotcheckforzerolengthstrings:

if(isset($form_name)&&$form_name!='')[...]

ashorterwaywouldbethisone:

if($form_name&&$form_message)[...]

butthisisdirtysinceyoucannotmakesurethesevariablesexistandphpwillechoawarningifyou
refertoanonexistingvariablelikethis.plus,astringcontaining"0"willevaluatetoFALSEif
castedtoaboolean.

thisfunctionwillcheckoneormoreformvaluesiftheyaresetanddonotcontainanemptystring.
itreturnsfalseonthefirstemptyornonexistingpostvar.

<?
functionpostvars(){
foreach(func_get_args()as$var){
if(!isset($_POST[$var])||$_POST[$var]==='')returnfalse;
}
returntrue;
}
?>

http://php.net/manual/es/function.isset.php 30/32
26/4/2017 PHP:issetManual

example:if(postvars('form_name','form_message'))[...]
up
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33
richardwilliamleeATgmail
11yearsago
Justanoteontheprevioususerscomments.isset()shouldonlybeusedfortestingifthevariable
existsandnotifthevariablecontainesanempty""string.empty()isdesignedforthat.

Also,asnotedpreviosuly!empty()isthebestmethodfortestingforsetnonemptyvariables.
addanote

Funcionesdemanejodevariables
boolval
debug_zval_dump
doubleval
empty
floatval
get_defined_vars
get_resource_type
gettype
import_request_variables
intval
is_array
is_bool
is_callable
is_double
is_float
is_int
is_integer
is_iterable
is_long
is_null
is_numeric
is_object
is_real
is_resource
is_scalar
is_string
isset
print_r
serialize
settype
strval
unserialize
unset
var_dump
var_export

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