SYSTEM:
I use PHP 4.0.6 on Win2k pro with Apache 1.3.22 win
Loaded modules don't seem to make a difference for the described behaviour.

DESCRIPION:
Let's say we have a PHP script, the retrieves some variables via HTTP post or get. And the variables, passed to the script, have different names each time.
Usually we would use "isset($variable)" to check if it exists. In most cases we need to check the content of the variable too. So it would be nice to do that in one step.

The script of the following examples retrieved $var1 or $var or both of them via HTTP.

EXAMPLE 1:
// This would be the usual way i guess
if(isset($var1)){
  ...
}
if(isset($var2)){
  ...
}

EXAMPLE 2:
// This has been possible with PHP 3.xx - 4.0.5
// without previously checking for existence 
// of $var1/$var2
if($var1 == "something"){
  ...
}
if($var2 == "anything"){
  ...
}

EXAMPLE 3:
// With PHP 4.0.6 we would have to do this:
if(!isset($var1)){ // is NOT declared?
  $var1 = "";
}
if(!isset($var2)){ // is NOT declared?
  $var2 = "";
}
// first we had to declare them, now we can use them
if($var1 == "something"){
  ...
}
if($var2 == "anything"){
  ...
}


I wonder if this new behaviour is a bug or a feature?
Or why can't I find info about it in the changes list if it's a feature?

Please send your answer to: v.puttrich@digitalliquid.de

Thank you!

Volker Puttrich