PHP - Validation function to return true|false, AND a message if false

Question

I have a validation function which returns either true or false.
However, I want it to provide info as to what the problem is, when there is one.

Let's say the function is like this:

function is_valid($val) {
  $result = true;
  if( rule_1_not_met ) $result = false;
  if( rule_2_not_met ) $result = false;
  return $result;
}

Which is used like this

$val = $_GET['some_param'];
if(!is_valid($val)) $out .= 'Not so helpful feedback.';
...

I thought I could change it like this:

function is_valid($val) {
  $result = array(true, array());
  if( rule_1_not_met ) $result[1][] = 'Reason 1';
  if( rule_2_not_met ) $result[1][] = 'Reason 2';
  if(count($result[1]) > 0) $result[0] = false;
  return $result;
}

And use it like this:

$val = $_GET['some_param'];
$validation_result = is_valid($val);
if(!$validation_result[0]) $out .= implode('<br/>', $validation_result[1]);
...

My question is

• Am I in, for unexpected results with this?
• Are there better ways to achieve this?

P.S. Would make this community wiki

Answer 1

You are in the right track but I would like to do this in this way

function is_valid($val,&$mes) {
  $result = true;
  if( rule_1_not_met ) { $mes[]='message one'; $result = false; }
  if( rule_2_not_met ) { $mes[]='Message two'; $result = false; }
  return $result;
}

$mes=array();
if(isvalid($val,$mes) ===false)  $out .= implode('<br/>', $mes);

Answer 2

You could use a Result object that encapsulates return data, a message and a status.

i.e.

class Result( $bResult, $sMessage, $mData ) {
    public function __construct() {
        $this->bResult = $bResult;
        $this->sMessage = $sMessage;
        $this->mData = $mData;
    }
}

In Your code:

$result = new Result(true, 'some helpful message here', null);

Answer 3

$reasons = array();
function is_valid($val)
{
    global $reasons;
    if ( rule_1_not_met ) $reasons[] = 'Reason 1';
    if ( rule_2_not_met ) $reasons[] = 'Reason 2';
    if ( count($reasons) == 0 )
        return TRUE;
    else
        return FALSE;
}

if (!is_valid($condition))
{
    echo 'Was not valid for these reasons<br />';
    foreach($reasons as $reason)
        echo $reason, '<br>';
}
else
    echo 'Is valid!';