Checking if isset and is true?

The empty() function will do the job.

Use it with the not operator (!) to test "if not empty", i.e.

if(!empty($var)){

}

You may use the ?? operator as such:

if($var ?? false){
   ...
}

What this does is checks if $var is set and keep it's value. If not, the expression evaluates as the second parameter, in this case false but could be use in other ways like:

// $a is not set
$b = 16;

echo $a ?? 2; // outputs 2
echo $a ?? $b ?? 7; // outputs 16

More info here: https://lornajane.net/posts/2015/new-in-php-7-null-coalesce-operator