PHP ternary operator vs null coalescing operator

Question

Can someone explain the differences between ternary operator shorthand (?:) and null coalescing operator (??) in PHP?

When do they behave d

Answer 1

For the beginners:

Null coalescing operator (??)

Everything is true except null values and undefined (variable/array index/object attributes)

ex:

$array = [];
$object = new stdClass();

var_export (false ?? 'second');                           # false
var_export (true  ?? 'second');                           # true
var_export (null  ?? 'second');                           # 'second'
var_export (''    ?? 'second');                           # ""
var_export ('some text'    ?? 'second');                  # "some text"
var_export (0     ?? 'second');                           # 0
var_export ($undefinedVarible ?? 'second');               # "second"
var_export ($array['undefined_index'] ?? 'second');       # "second"
var_export ($object->undefinedAttribute ?? 'second');     # "second"

this is basically check the variable(array index, object attribute.. etc) is exist and not null. similar to isset function

Ternary operator shorthand (?:)

every false things (false,null,0,empty string) are come as false, but if it's a undefined it also come as false but Notice will throw

ex

$array = [];
$object = new stdClass();

var_export (false ?: 'second');                           # "second"
var_export (true  ?: 'second');                           # true
var_export (null  ?: 'second');                           # "second"
var_export (''    ?: 'second');                           # "second"
var_export ('some text'    ?? 'second');                  # "some text"
var_export (0     ?: 'second');                           # "second"
var_export ($undefinedVarible ?: 'second');               # "second" Notice: Undefined variable: ..
var_export ($array['undefined_index'] ?: 'second');       # "second" Notice: Undefined index: ..
var_export ($object->undefinedAttribute ?: 'second');     # "Notice: Undefined index: ..

Hope this helps