DEV Community

Cover image for Replace Nested If Else Statement with Array
Timothy Soladoye
Timothy Soladoye

Posted on

Replace Nested If Else Statement with Array

#programming #php #array #webdev

Replace Nested If Else Statement with Array

The use of Early return and Array Approach will be considered

Nested if else

I am very sure we have either written or seen such nested code.

It isn't pleasant to look at.

public function checkData($var){
    if (isset($var)){
          if ($var==1){
              return 'one';
          }
          elseif($var==2){
              return 'two';
          }
          elseif($var==3){
              return 'three';
          }
          elseif($var==4){
              return 'four';
          }    
    }
    else{
     return 'null';
    }

}
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

We can make it better

Early Return 

public function checkData($var){
    if (!isset($var)){
        return 'null';
    }
    if ($var==1){
        return 'one';
    }
    if($var==2){
        return 'two';
    }
    if($var==3){
        return 'three';
    }
    if($var==4){
        return 'four';
    }
}
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Array Approach 

public function checkData($var){
    $array = [
    '1'=>'one',
    '2'=>'two',
    '3'=>'three',
    '4'=>'four',
    ];
    return $array[$var] ?? 'null'; 
}
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

The array approach is easy to update and easier to understand as compared to the nested If Else.

The early return also works very fine!

The Array approach can also be used for methods.

Early return Method calling 

public function checkData($var){
    if (!isset($var)){
        return $this->nullMethod($var);
    }
    if ($var==1){
        return $this->oneMethod($var);
    }
    if($var==2){
        return $this->twoMethod($var);
    }
    if($var==3){
        return $this->threeMethod($var);
    }
    if($var==4){
        return $this->fourMethod($var);
    }
}
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Array Approach Method calling 

public function checkData($var){
 $array_methods = [
    '1'=>'oneMethod',
    '2'=>'twoMethod',
    '3'=>'threeMethod',
    '4'=>'fourMethod',
    ];
    return $this->{$array_methods[$var]($var)};

    //to simplify, break it down
    $method=$array_methods[$var];
    return $this->{$method}($var);
}
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Top comments (2)

Collapse
 
microerror profile image
microerror •

PHP 8.x exposes match which turns your entire article into

return match($data) {
    1 => 'one',
    2 => 'two',
   default => 'default value'
};
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

There's no need for arrays or early returns, this is as concise as it gets.

Collapse
 
timoye profile image
Timothy Soladoye •

Yes @microerror ,

The match expression can also be used to replace nested if else statement

Read next

hasincodes profile image

My First Full-Stack Project ZeusConnect

Hasin Raiyan -

ankita482 profile image

Microsoft Authentication Library Modules

Ankita -

colinsoleim profile image

Supercharging Rails: Enabling Ruby's YJIT Compiler in Production

Colin Soleim -

dionarodrigues profile image

Docker compose, orchestrating and automating services

Diona Rodrigues -