PHP how to return false with file() for an empty .csv file?

Question

Why do I always get a array with one item of empty string for an empty .csv file?

$content = file('products.csv');

print_r($content);

result:

Array ( [0] => )

Can I return false so that I know there is nothing in the csv file?

Answer 1

A single line test should get you the result:

$empty = empty($content) || (count($content) === 1 && empty($content[0]));

The following should avoid the "fake empty":

$empty = empty($content) || (count($content) === 1 && $content[0] === '');

If you need a re-usable function, and prefer, as you stated, to get an array or nothing, this may be helpful:

function get_file($file_name = null, $strict = false) {
    $return = null;
    if(!empty($file_name) && is_readable($file_name)) {
        $contents = file($file_name);
        if(
            !empty($contents)
            && (
                count($contents) > 1 
                || (
                    !empty($contents[0])
                    || ($strict && $contents[0] !== '')
                )
            )
        ) {
            $return = $contents;
        }
    }
    return $return;
}

I mean, we could get all kinds of creative and iterate over lines, etc. But I think you get the idea.

If you want to get a CSV file, I would suggest using a method like fgetcsv() (repurposed):

function getcsv($file_name, $headers = array(), $delimiter = ',', $enclosure = '"', $escape = "\\" ) {
    $contents = array();
    $get_headers = $headers === FALSE;
    $headers = is_array($headers) ? array_values($headers) : array();
    if(!empty($file_name) && is_readable($file_name)) {
        $row = 0;
        if (($handle = fopen($file_name, "r")) !== FALSE) {
            while (($data = fgetcsv($handle, 0, $delimiter, $enclosure, $escape)) !== FALSE) {
                if($get_headers && empty($headers)) {
                    $headers = $data;
                    continue;
                }
                foreach($data as $i => $col_value) {
                    $col_name = isset($headers[$i]) ? $headers[$i] : $i;
                    $contents[$row][$col_name] = $col_value;
                }
                $row++;
            }
            fclose($handle);
        }
    }

    return $contents;
}

Note, above is not tested, just a quick draft, and I am going to bed. I'll edit it tomorrow if need be.

Finally, if you are getting a single line, with white-space, and this validates as "empty" in your eyes, simple test it after a trim:

$empty_line = trim($content[$line_num]) == '';

Not sure what else to tell you. I think we have equipped you with quite a few tools and ways to validate this situation. Best of luck.