php - Inserting table data into a DB ignores !empty check and still inserts -

i have multiple tables user can enter data into. if user chooses don't have enter data every table , have checks see if fields empty before iterating through data , begin insert db.

here 1 of tables looks like:

<table id="budget_table"> <thead>     <tr>         <th>roofs</th>         <th>area</th>         <th>recommendation</th>         <th>budget</th>     </tr> </thead> <tbody id="budget_tb">     <tr id="budget_row0">         <td><input id="budget-roofs" name="budget-roofs[]" placeholder="entire roof area"></td>         <td><input id="budget-area" name="budget-roof-area[]" placeholder="approx. 1,000 sq. ft."></td>         <td><input id="budget-recommendation" name="budget-recommendation[]" placeholder="roof repairs & maintenance"></td>         <td><input id="budget-amount" name="budget-amount[]" placeholder="$1,500.00 $2,500.00"></td>     </tr> </tbody> </table>  <input type="submit" value="create" name="submit"> 

when user clicks submit check see if first input field empty, if empty want nothing. if has within input fields want dump data db.

here php looks like:

var_dump($_post['budget-roofs']); //i added see going on  if(!empty($_post['budget-roofs'])){      //foreach budget row insert data     foreach ($_post['budget-roofs'] $index => $roofs) {         $area = $_post['budget-roof-area'][$index];         $recommendations = $_post['budget-recommendation'][$index];         $amount = $_post['budget-amount'][$index];          //insert queries     } } 

if enter nothing within input fields submits empty string db.

i used var_dump check see if empty , perhaps why ignoring check. being shown:

array (size=1)   0 => string '' (length=0) 

so shows have size of 1 (so not empty why check being ignored).

however unsure why has empty string?

i tried taking out placeholder attribute because thought maybe causing not issue either.

is there better way check see if see if input field empty , ensure empty strings don't dumped db?

where empty string coming from?

however unsure why has empty string?

the input fields in form submitted , if contain no data (entered user) submitted empty.

<?php var_dump($_post); ?>  <form method="post" action="example.php">     <input type="text" name="arr" value="">     <input type="submit" name="submit" value="submit"> </form> 

if submit form above empty:

array(2) { ["arr"]=> string(0) "" ["submit"]=> string(6) "submit" } 

you have @ least 1 array element of budget-roofs since it's present in form. <input id="budget-roofs" name="budget-roofs[]" placeholder="entire roof area"> if not enter input still being submitted empty.

is there better way check see if see if input field empty , ensure empty strings don't dumped db?

you have check each element individually.

foreach ($_post['budget-roofs'] $index => $roofs) {    if (! empty($roofs)       // insert here. remember check other fields, may empty well.