Simple isset or is_null question

[Syphon]

Which is the more "safer/preferred" method to use? As long as the logic works fine, they both accomplish the same outcome. But I just want to know about any "special" cases when one should be used over the other. For example

 

if(isset($_REQUEST["UserID"]) && isset($_REQUEST["Action"]) )

 

or

 

if(!is_null($_REQUEST["UserID"]) && !is_null($_REQUEST["Action"]) )

[MadTechie]

if you need to check if its set then use isset, if you need to know if its null then use is_null..

with $_REQUEST i more often than not use isset, or !empty..

 

hope that helps

 

as a note, is_null isn't the same as isset..

 

ie

$test = NULL;

isset but is also null

 

[Ninjakreborn]

If you wanted fullproof you will have to check if it's set, null, or empty (empty string) then populate it with a

default value.