best way to check a empty array?

Question

How can I check an array recursively for empty content like this example:

Array
(
    [product_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
               


        

Answer 1

I needed a function to filter an array recursively for non empty values.

Here is my recursive function:

function filterArray(array $array, bool $keepNonArrayValues = false): array {
  $result = [];
  foreach ($array as $key => $value) {
    if (is_array($value)) {
      $value = $this->filterArray($value, $keepNonArrayValues);
    }

    // keep non empty values anyway
    // otherwise only if it is not an array and flag $keepNonArrayValues is TRUE 
    if (!empty($value) || (!is_array($value) && $keepNonArrayValues)) {
      $result[$key] = $value;
    }
  }

  return array_slice($result, 0)
}

With parameter $keepNonArrayValues you can decide if values such 0 (number zero), '' (empty string) or false (bool FALSE) shout be kept in the array. In other words: if $keepNonArrayValues = true only empty arrays will be removed from target array.

array_slice($result, 0) has the effect that numeric indices will be rearranged (0..length-1).

Additionally, after filtering the array by this function it can be tested with empty($filterredArray).