How do I concatenate string with variable that is empty.

[scosteve]

I need to echo a string of variables and depending on the input one may be empty.

 

I have for example,

 

$row['add_1'] = 15 north st

$row['add_2'] = Apt 2

$row['city'] = Macon

$row['state'] = GA

 

echo $row['add_1'] . ", " . $row['add_2'] . ", " . $row['city'] . ", " . $row['state']

 

this will output

15 north st, Apt 2, Macon, GA.

 

My problem occurs when $row['add_2'] is empty.

 

the output looks like this.

 

15 north st, , Macon, GA

 

How do I get rid of the extra comma if the variable is empty?

 

 

 

 

[Barand]

Use array_filter() to remove empty items then join/implode

$row['add_1'] = '15 north st';
$row['add_2'] = '';
$row['city'] = 'Macon';
$row['state'] = 'GA';

echo join(', ', array_filter($row));  // --> 15 north st, Macon, GA

edit:

If the address elements are part of a larger array you can use array_slice() to extract them EG

$row['name'] = 'Fred';
$row['add_1'] = '15 north st';
$row['add_2'] = '';
$row['city'] = 'Macon';
$row['state'] = 'GA';
$row['phone'] = '132 456 7890';

echo join(', ', array_filter(array_slice($row,1,4)));  // --> 15 north st, Macon, GA

Edited October 28, 2013 by Barand

[Rifts]

you could just check if that variable add_2 is empty then change your code.

if(empty( $row['add_2'])) {
 //dont include it
}

also issset() might work too

 

if you want to read more about empty, isset

http://techtalk.virendrachandak.com/php-isset-vs-empty-vs-is_null/

Edited October 29, 2013 by Rifts

[scosteve]

Thanks Rifts,

 

I used your method.  I knew that method was possible but I was hoping to avoid all the extra code.  I was looking for something that worked like the trim function in access.  This works though.

 

Thanks