Initializing variables

fflded

Hello. I was wondering if it is possible to initialize a variable without having to assign something to it. For example, I want a link to go to index.php?testVar but I don't want to necessarily set testVar=true or anything like that. Suggestions?

-Ed

jc94062

Clicking on that takes you to the index.php page.

fflded

I got that much. What I was planning to do was:

<? if ($testVar) {
run this code;
}

else {
run other code;
} ?>

the problem I came across is that if testVar is not set equal to something like $testVar=true or $testVar=1 or anything like that in the href, the index.php page won't recognize that $testVar has been initialized.

jc94062

if (isset($testVar)) {
//do stuff
}
else {
//do other stuff
}

That might work, I'm not sure though...

fflded

LOL, tried that... no good, also tried the other way

if (!$testVar){
// other stuff
}

else {
// stuff
}

and

if (!isset($testVar)){
// other stuff
}

else {
// stuff
}

... you\'d think this wouldn\'t be much to ask from the people at php..

jc94062

The only way I can think of then is to use header() to load the page twice, then get $HTTP_REFERER and cut it down so you just have the last 7 letters, see if this is equal to testVar.

I hope someone else has a better idea!

lyonhaert

the variable IS initialized, but values such as 0 and empty-strings count as false.

in fact, TRUE is represented by the integer 1, and FALSE is represented by the empty-string in PHP, literally.

so if you want that GET var to count as true, you're just going to have to use =1 or something.