Avoid empty blocks

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Metadata

ID: php-best-practices/avoid-empty-blocks

Language: PHP

Severity: Warning

Category: Error Prone

Description

This rule is essential for maintaining clean and efficient code in PHP. An empty block, or a block of code that doesn’t perform any action, can be confusing and misleading. It suggests that some logic should be implemented there, but it’s missing or has been forgotten.

This rule is important because it helps to prevent potential bugs, improve code readability, and maintain a high level of code quality. An empty block can be a sign of unfinished code or a bug that’s waiting to happen. For example, if you leave an empty if block, the code inside the if statement won’t execute, leading to unexpected behavior.

To avoid violating this rule, always ensure that all your code blocks have meaningful content. If a block of code is not necessary, it’s better to remove it entirely instead of leaving it empty. This makes your code cleaner, easier to read, and less prone to errors. For instance, instead of leaving an empty if block, you can use an else block or a ternary operator to handle the alternative scenario.

Non-Compliant Code Examples

<?php
if ($foo) {

}

Compliant Code Examples

<?php
if ($foo) {
    echo 'true';
}    else {
    echo 'false';
}