I was working on a console command that imports data from a CSV file. Most of the time, I use the same file, but occasionally I need to specify a different one. So I set up an optional argument:
protected $signature = 'import:clients
{file? : Path to CSV file, defaults to storage/app/clients.csv}';
Now I needed to get that value, falling back to a default path if none was provided.
My first instinct was to check if argument() accepts a default value.
After all, that's how config() and request() work.
So I tried:
$csvPath = $this->argument('file', storage_path('app/clients.csv'));
Nope.
Laravel's argument() method doesn't accept a default parameter.
It just returns null if the argument wasn't provided.
Fine.
I'll use Arr::get() since it does accept a default:
$csvPath = Arr::get($this->arguments(), 'file', storage_path('app/clients.csv'));
This works, but it feels sloppy. I'm pulling all the arguments just to grab one value. There's extra data floating around that I don't need.
Then I remembered the null coalescing operator (Thank you PHP 7!). This is exactly what it's for:
$csvPath = $this->argument('file') ?? storage_path('app/clients.csv');
Clean. Readable. No extra baggage.
Here's the thing though: none of these answers is universally "right."
The null coalesce felt best to me in this case, but another developer might prefer the explicitness of Arr::get().
What matters is that you explore your options and understand the tradeoffs.
That's why knowing multiple approaches is valuable. You can pick the one that fits your specific situation, not just the first thing that works.
Here to help,
Aaron
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