[smith.kyle]

I found a nifty little trick I thought was kind of cool. Usually if I need to strlen something, I do it like so:

Code

if (isset($foo) && strlen($foo) > 0) {     //do something }

I found a nifty trick though that will do the same thing, but make things slightly faster:

Code

if (isset($foo[0])) {     //do something }

If you use a string variable as an array, each character from the string becomes an element of the array, i.e.

$foo = 'string';
$foo[0] = 's';
$foo[1] = 't';
$foo[2] = 'r';
$foo[3] = 'i';
etc.

so by doing isset($foo[0]), you are effectively checking to see if a character exists in the first position of $foo. This is slightly faster than strlen() as isset() is a language construct, whereas strlen() is a function. It's not gonna make that much of a difference, I just thought it was cool!

Kyle


_________________
kyle[at]jamroom.net

Yes...that's a soda machine...

I get bored when no one's posting...

[Brian]

Jamroom uses this in a few places internally, and it is a good trick - the only issue is that it can be a bit of a "gotcha" if $foo is an array... I believe you can also use "squigly" brackets for this as well, which is clearer - i.e.

Code

if (isset($foo{1})) {

- Brian


_________________
Make sure and check out:
* The Jamroom FAQ
* The Jamroom Documentation

[djmerlyn]

I don't understand...

isset($foo)
isset($foo[1])

Are both the same as saying "is there anything here", is it not? Why do you need the key?


_________________
Pro JR Hosting, now 50% off!
-100% Guaranteed

"more server and network power than any host, dedicated to your jamroom site"

[djmerlyn]

oh, because the var may be set but may be =0 not necessarily >0 correct?


_________________
Pro JR Hosting, now 50% off!
-100% Guaranteed

"more server and network power than any host, dedicated to your jamroom site"

[smith.kyle]

Right DJ. Cool with the curly braces, I'll have to use it more


_________________
kyle[at]jamroom.net

Yes...that's a soda machine...

I get bored when no one's posting...

[Paul]

Can this be used inside smarty ifs?

{if isset($foo{1})}
Do Something
{/if}

Might the curly braces confuse things?

Pa


_________________
Paul Asher
Jamroom Network Team Member: http://www.jamroom.net
Priority Support: http://www.jamroom.net/Support_Center

[smith.kyle]

I think you'd have to do it with brackets instead of braces if you tried it in smarty - I'm not sure if it works.


_________________
kyle[at]jamroom.net

Yes...that's a soda machine...

I get bored when no one's posting...