PHP ·

Simplifying Your Code with Advanced Operators in PHP

Ready to write PHP code like a pro? Learn how to use advanced operators to make your code more concise and readable, and take your skills to the next level.

Understanding the different operators in PHP can help you write cleaner, more efficient, and more effective code, while also making you a more skilled and versatile developer. Knowing the different operators in PHP is important for several reasons:

  1. Efficiency: Understanding how to use the appropriate operators can make your code more efficient by reducing the number of lines of code needed to achieve a specific task.
  2. Readability: The use of advanced operators can make your code more concise and easier to read, especially when dealing with complex logic.
  3. Accuracy: Certain operators perform specific operations that cannot be achieved using basic arithmetic or logical operators. Knowing how to use these operators can ensure the accuracy and integrity of your code.
  4. Compatibility: Different versions of PHP may support different operators. Knowing which operators are available and their compatibility ensures your code works across different environments.

All available operators can be seen on PHP.net operators . In this post, we'll focus on some of the more advanced operators:

Name Syntax Example
Null coalescing ?? $username = $name ?? 'Guest';
Null coalesce assignment ??= $username ??= 'Guest';
Spaceship <=> $result = $a <=> $b;
Ternary ?: $result = ($a > $b) ? 'Greater' : 'Lesser or equal';

Null coalescing operator

The null coalescing operator (??) was introduced in PHP 7.0. It checks if a variable exists and is not null, returning a default value if it doesn’t exist or is null. 

// Without null coalescing.
if (isset($name)) {
    $username = $name;
} else {
    $username = 'Guest';
}

// Using null coalescing operator.
$username = $name ?? 'Guest';

Null coalesce assignment operator

The null coalesce assignment operator (??=) assigns a value to a variable only if it does not already exist or is null. 

// Without null coalesce assignment.
if (!isset($username)) {
    $username = 'Guest';
}

// Using null coalesce assignment operator.
$username ??= 'Guest';

Spaceship operator

The spaceship operator (<=>) compares two values and returns -1, 0, or 1 depending on whether the first value is less than, equal to, or greater than the second value. 

// Without spaceship.
if ($a > $b) {
    $result = 1;
} elseif ($a == $b) {
    $result = 0;
} else {
    $result = -1;
}

// Using spaceship operator.
$result = $a <=> $b;

Ternary operator

The ternary operator (?:) is a shorthand if-else statement, assigning a value to a variable based on a condition. 

condition ? value_if_true : value_if_false
// Without ternary.
if ($a > $b) {
    $result = 'Greater';
} else {
    $result = 'Lesser or equal';
}

// Using ternary operator.
$result = ($a > $b) ? 'Greater' : 'Lesser or equal';

Ternary shorthand operator (Elvis operator)

The Elvis operator is a shorthand version of the ternary operator: 

$username = $name ? $name : 'Guest'; // Ternary operator
$username = $name ?: 'Guest'; // Elvis operator

Wrapping up

There you have it — an introduction to some of the more advanced operators in PHP. By understanding and mastering these operators, you can write cleaner, more efficient code and take your programming skills to new heights.

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