isset vs empty vs is_null

I’m trying to write a script that when a user uploads a file and does not enter a name an error is returned. I’ve tried using is_null, empty, and isset and they all do not work. Eg, below, is_null returns an error even when a name is entered. Can anyone help?

$caption = $_REQUEST[$name_input_name];

if(is_null($caption)) {
    $file->error = 'Please Enter a Title';
    return false;
}

Answer

isset() will check if the variable is set, ie

<?php

echo isset($var); // false

$var = 'hello';

empty() will check if the variable is empty, ie

<?php

$emptyString = '';

echo empty($emptyString); // true

is_null() will check for NULL which is different from empty, because it’s set to NULL not an empty string. (NULL might be a confusing concept)

Since your title is a string, I think you want to be using empty()

if (!isset($_REQUEST[$name_input_name]) || empty($_REQUEST[$name_input_name])) {
    $file->error = 'Please Enter a Title';
    return false;
}