Are there best practices for structuring classes in PHP to avoid the need for frequent isset() checks?

When structuring classes in PHP, it's best to initialize class properties with default values to avoid the need for frequent isset() checks. By setting default values for properties, you ensure that they are always defined and can be accessed without having to check if they are set. This practice helps to make your code more readable and reduces the likelihood of errors caused by accessing undefined properties. 

class User {
    private $username = '';
    private $email = '';
    
    public function setUsername($username) {
        $this->username = $username;
    }
    
    public function setEmail($email) {
        $this->email = $email;
    }
    
    public function getUsername() {
        return $this->username;
    }
    
    public function getEmail() {
        return $this->email;
    }
}

$user = new User();
$user->setUsername('john_doe');
$user->setEmail('john.doe@example.com');

echo $user->getUsername(); // Output: john_doe
echo $user->getEmail(); // Output: john.doe@example.com

Keywords

PHP classes structuring isset() checks

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