What is the significance of the functions empty() and trim() in PHP for variable validation?
The functions empty() and trim() are significant for variable validation in PHP as they help ensure that the input data is clean and free from unnecessary spaces or empty values. The empty() function checks if a variable is empty or not, while the trim() function removes any leading or trailing whitespace from a string. By using these functions in combination, you can validate and sanitize user input effectively before processing it further.
// Example code snippet demonstrating the use of empty() and trim() for variable validation
$input = $_POST['username'];
// Check if the input is not empty and remove any leading or trailing whitespace
if (!empty($input)) {
$username = trim($input);
// Further processing of the sanitized username
} else {
// Handle the case where the input is empty
echo "Username cannot be empty";
}