Tips & Tricks

Smarty Manual
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# Chapter 18. Tips & Tricks

# Blank Variable Handling

There may be times when you want to print a default value for an empty variable instead of printing nothing, such as printing `&nbsp;` so that html table backgrounds work properly. Many would use an `{if}` statement to handle this, but there is a shorthand way with Smarty, using the `default` variable modifier.

> Note: "Undefined variable" errors will show if PHP `error_reporting()` is `E_ALL` and a variable had not been assigned to Smarty.

Example 18-1. Printing &nbsp; when a variable is empty
    {* the long way *}
    {if $title eq ''}
       &nbsp;
    {else}
       {$title}
    {/if}

    {* the short way *}
    {$title|default:'&nbsp;'}

See also `default` modifier and default variable handling.

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