Question

When you have many inputs (select/textarea/input), it will look real messy when you include isset()

For example:

<input id="firstname" type="text" name="firstname" 
  value="<?php echo (isset($_POST['firstname']) ? $_POST['firstname'] : "";?>">

In there alternative way so it will look tidy and maintainable?

I am using MVC Framework if that help.

Answer 1

You could build your own function that would fill values:

function get_post( $key, $default = ''){
    if( isset( $_POST[$key])){
       return htmlspecialchars( $_POST[$key]);
    }
    return htmlspecialchars( $default);
}

And use it as:

<input ... value="<?php echo get_post( 'firstname', 'Your name'); ?>" />

Or anyway that it’d be incorporated into your framework.

If you need more complete keys you could do it like this:

function get_post( ){
    $args = func_get_args();
    if( count( $args) < 2){
       // Wrong usage, throw an exception
    }
    $default = array_pop( $args);

    $progress = $_POST;
    while( $key = array_shift( $args)){
        if( !is_array( $progress) || !isset( $progress[$key])){
           $progress = $default;
           break;
        }
        $progress = $progress[$key];
    }
    return htmlspecialchars( $progress);
}

echo get_post( 'my', 'multiple', 'keys', 'default');

Preparing variables

You may also take advantage of php array operator+ and set all variables:

<?php

$myList = array( 'name' => 'Your name', 'another' => 'Another');
$values = $_POST + $myList;

And than just:

<?php echo htmlspecialchars( $values['name']); ?>