Replace x() by isset(), !empty() or defaults()

- Remove extraneous parentheses around empty() calls - Remove duplicate calls to intval(), count() or strlen() after empty() - Replace ternary operators outputting binary value with empty() return value - Rewrite defaults() without x()
3 years ago · 458981f75c
101 changed files with 919 additions and 937 deletions
--- a/boot.php
+++ b/boot.php
@ -341,12 +341,13 @@ function get_app()
 /**
 * @brief Multi-purpose function to check variable state.
 *
- * Usage: x($var) or $x($array, 'key')
+ * Usage: x($var) or x($array, 'key')
 *
 * returns false if variable/key is not set
 * if variable is set, returns 1 if has 'non-zero' value, otherwise returns 0.
 * e.g. x('') or x(0) returns 0;
 *
+ * @deprecated since version 2018.12
 * @param string|array $s variable to check
 * @param string       $k key inside the array to check
 *
@ -383,13 +384,12 @@ function x($s, $k = null)
 * - defaults($var, $default)
 * - defaults($array, 'key', $default)
 *
+ * @param array $args
 * @brief Returns a defaut value if the provided variable or array key is falsy
- * @see x()
 * @return mixed
 */
-function defaults() {
-	$args = func_get_args();
-
+function defaults(...$args)
+{
 	if (count($args) < 2) {
 		throw new BadFunctionCallException('defaults() requires at least 2 parameters');
 	}
@ -400,16 +400,15 @@ function defaults() {
 		throw new BadFunctionCallException('defaults($arr, $key, $def) $key is null');
 	}

-	$default = array_pop($args);
+	// The default value always is the last argument
+	$return = array_pop($args);

-	if (call_user_func_array('x', $args)) {
-		if (count($args) === 1) {
-			$return = $args[0];
-		} else {
-			$return = $args[0][$args[1]];
-		}
-	} else {
-		$return = $default;
+	if (count($args) == 2 && is_array($args[0]) && !empty($args[0][$args[1]])) {
+		$return = $args[0][$args[1]];
+	}
+
+	if (count($args) == 1 && !empty($args[0])) {
+		$return = $args[0];
 	}

 	return $return;
@ -446,15 +445,15 @@ function public_contact()
 {
 	static $public_contact_id = false;

-	if (!$public_contact_id && x($_SESSION, 'authenticated')) {
-		if (x($_SESSION, 'my_address')) {
+	if (!$public_contact_id && !empty($_SESSION['authenticated'])) {
+		if (!empty($_SESSION['my_address'])) {
 			// Local user
 			$public_contact_id = intval(Contact::getIdForURL($_SESSION['my_address'], 0, true));
-		} elseif (x($_SESSION, 'visitor_home')) {
+		} elseif (!empty($_SESSION['visitor_home'])) {
 			// Remote user
 			$public_contact_id = intval(Contact::getIdForURL($_SESSION['visitor_home'], 0, true));
 		}
-	} elseif (!x($_SESSION, 'authenticated')) {
+	} elseif (empty($_SESSION['authenticated'])) {
 		$public_contact_id = false;
 	}

@ -479,7 +478,7 @@ function remote_user()
 		return false;
 	}

-	if (x($_SESSION, 'authenticated') && x($_SESSION, 'visitor_id')) {
+	if (!empty($_SESSION['authenticated']) && !empty($_SESSION['visitor_id'])) {
 		return intval($_SESSION['visitor_id']);
 	}
 	return false;
@ -499,7 +498,7 @@ function notice($s)
 	}

 	$a = get_app();
-	if (!x($_SESSION, 'sysmsg')) {
+	if (empty($_SESSION['sysmsg'])) {
 		$_SESSION['sysmsg'] = [];
 	}
 	if ($a->interactive) {
@ -522,7 +521,7 @@ function info($s)
 		return;
 	}

-	if (!x($_SESSION, 'sysmsg_info')) {
+	if (empty($_SESSION['sysmsg_info'])) {
 		$_SESSION['sysmsg_info'] = [];
 	}
 	if ($a->interactive) {
--- a/doc/themes.md
+++ b/doc/themes.md
@ -181,13 +181,13 @@ Next take the default.php file found in the /view direcotry and exchange the asi
 So the central part of the file now looks like this:

    <body>
-        <?php if(x($page,'nav')) echo $page['nav']; ?>
-        <aside><?php if(x($page,'right_aside')) echo $page['right_aside']; ?></aside>
-        <section><?php if(x($page,'content')) echo $page['content']; ?>
+        <?php if(!empty($page['nav'])) echo $page['nav']; ?>
+        <aside><?php if(!empty($page['right_aside'])) echo $page['right_aside']; ?></aside>
+        <section><?php if(!empty($page['content'])) echo $page['content']; ?>
                <div id="page-footer"></div>
        </section>
-        <right_aside><?php if(x($page,'aside')) echo $page['aside']; ?></right_aside>
-        <footer><?php if(x($page,'footer')) echo $page['footer']; ?></footer>
+        <right_aside><?php if(!empty($page['aside'])) echo $page['aside']; ?></right_aside>
+        <footer><?php if(!empty($page['footer'])) echo $page['footer']; ?></footer>
    </body>

 Finally we need a style.css file, inheriting the definitions from the parent theme and containing out changes for the new theme.
--- a/include/api.php
+++ b/include/api.php
@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ $called_api = [];
 */
 function api_user()
 {
-	if (x($_SESSION, 'allow_api')) {
+	if (!empty($_SESSION['allow_api'])) {
 		return local_user();
 	}

@ -186,8 +186,8 @@ function api_login(App $a)
 	}

 	// workaround for HTTP-auth in CGI mode
-	if (x($_SERVER, 'REDIRECT_REMOTE_USER')) {
-		$userpass = base64_decode(substr($_SERVER["REDIRECT_REMOTE_USER"], 6)) ;
+	if (!empty($_SERVER['REDIRECT_REMOTE_USER'])) {
+		$userpass = base64_decode(substr($_SERVER["REDIRECT_REMOTE_USER"], 6));
 		if (strlen($userpass)) {
 			list($name, $password) = explode(':', $userpass);
 			$_SERVER['PHP_AUTH_USER'] = $name;
@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ function api_login(App $a)
 		}
 	}

-	if (!x($_SERVER, 'PHP_AUTH_USER')) {
+	if (empty($_SERVER['PHP_AUTH_USER'])) {
 		Logger::log('API_login: ' . print_r($_SERVER, true), Logger::DEBUG);
 		header('WWW-Authenticate: Basic realm="Friendica"');
 		throw new UnauthorizedException("This API requires login");
@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ function api_call(App $a)
 					case "json":
 						header("Content-Type: application/json");
 						$json = json_encode(end($return));
-						if (x($_GET, 'callback')) {
+						if (!empty($_GET['callback'])) {
 							$json = $_GET['callback'] . "(" . $json . ")";
 						}
 						$return = $json;
@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ function api_get_user(App $a, $contact_id = null)
 		}
 	}

-	if (is_null($user) && x($_GET, 'user_id')) {
+	if (is_null($user) && !empty($_GET['user_id'])) {
 		$user = DBA::escape(api_unique_id_to_nurl($_GET['user_id']));

 		if ($user == "") {
@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ function api_get_user(App $a, $contact_id = null)
 			$extra_query .= "AND `contact`.`uid`=" . intval(api_user());
 		}
 	}
-	if (is_null($user) && x($_GET, 'screen_name')) {
+	if (is_null($user) && !empty($_GET['screen_name'])) {
 		$user = DBA::escape($_GET['screen_name']);
 		$extra_query = "AND `contact`.`nick` = '%s' ";
 		if (api_user() !== false) {
@ -571,7 +571,7 @@ function api_get_user(App $a, $contact_id = null)
 		}
 	}

-	if (is_null($user) && x($_GET, 'profileurl')) {
+	if (is_null($user) && !empty($_GET['profileurl'])) {
 		$user = DBA::escape(Strings::normaliseLink($_GET['profileurl']));
 		$extra_query = "AND `contact`.`nurl` = '%s' ";
 		if (api_user() !== false) {
@ -980,7 +980,7 @@ function api_account_verify_credentials($type)
 	unset($_REQUEST["screen_name"]);
 	unset($_GET["screen_name"]);

-	$skip_status = (x($_REQUEST, 'skip_status')?$_REQUEST['skip_status'] : false);
+	$skip_status = defaults($_REQUEST, 'skip_status', false);

 	$user_info = api_get_user($a);

@ -1014,10 +1014,10 @@ api_register_func('api/account/verify_credentials', 'api_account_verify_credenti
 */
 function requestdata($k)
 {
-	if (x($_POST, $k)) {
+	if (!empty($_POST[$k])) {
 		return $_POST[$k];
 	}
-	if (x($_GET, $k)) {
+	if (!empty($_GET[$k])) {
 		return $_GET[$k];
 	}
 	return null;
@ -1172,7 +1172,7 @@ function api_statuses_update($type)
 		}
 	}

-	if (x($_FILES, 'media')) {
+	if (!empty($_FILES['media'])) {
 		// upload the image if we have one
 		$picture = wall_upload_post($a, false);
 		if (is_array($picture)) {
@ -1199,7 +1199,7 @@ function api_statuses_update($type)

 	$_REQUEST['api_source'] = true;

-	if (!x($_REQUEST, "source")) {
+	if (empty($_REQUEST['source'])) {
 		$_REQUEST["source"] = api_source();
 	}

@ -1231,7 +1231,7 @@ function api_media_upload()

 	api_get_user($a);

-	if (!x($_FILES, 'media')) {
+	if (empty($_FILES['media'])) {
 		// Output error
 		throw new BadRequestException("No media.");
 	}
@ -1445,7 +1445,7 @@ function api_users_search($type)

 	$userlist = [];

-	if (x($_GET, 'q')) {
+	if (!empty($_GET['q'])) {
 		$r = q("SELECT id FROM `contact` WHERE `uid` = 0 AND `name` = '%s'", DBA::escape($_GET["q"]));

 		if (!DBA::isResult($r)) {
@ -1530,21 +1530,21 @@ function api_search($type)

 	$data = [];

-	if (!x($_REQUEST, 'q')) {
+	if (empty($_REQUEST['q'])) {
 		throw new BadRequestException("q parameter is required.");
 	}

-	if (x($_REQUEST, 'rpp')) {
+	if (!empty($_REQUEST['rpp'])) {
 		$count = $_REQUEST['rpp'];
-	} elseif (x($_REQUEST, 'count')) {
+	} elseif (!empty($_REQUEST['count'])) {
 		$count = $_REQUEST['count'];
 	} else {
 		$count = 15;
 	}

-	$since_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'since_id') ? $_REQUEST['since_id'] : 0);
-	$max_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'max_id') ? $_REQUEST['max_id'] : 0);
-	$page = (x($_REQUEST, 'page') ? $_REQUEST['page'] - 1 : 0);
+	$since_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'since_id', 0);
+	$max_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'max_id', 0);
+	$page = (!empty($_REQUEST['page']) ? $_REQUEST['page'] - 1 : 0);

 	$start = $page * $count;

@ -1598,16 +1598,15 @@ function api_statuses_home_timeline($type)
 	// get last network messages

 	// params
-	$count = (x($_REQUEST, 'count') ? $_REQUEST['count'] : 20);
-	$page = (x($_REQUEST, 'page') ? $_REQUEST['page'] - 1 : 0);
+	$count = defaults($_REQUEST, 'count', 20);
+	$page = (!empty($_REQUEST['page']) ? $_REQUEST['page'] - 1 : 0);
 	if ($page < 0) {
 		$page = 0;
 	}
-	$since_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'since_id') ? $_REQUEST['since_id'] : 0);
-	$max_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'max_id') ? $_REQUEST['max_id'] : 0);
-	//$since_id = 0;//$since_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'since_id')?$_REQUEST['since_id'] : 0);
-	$exclude_replies = (x($_REQUEST, 'exclude_replies') ? 1 : 0);
-	$conversation_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'conversation_id') ? $_REQUEST['conversation_id'] : 0);
+	$since_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'since_id', 0);
+	$max_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'max_id', 0);
+	$exclude_replies = !empty($_REQUEST['exclude_replies']);
+	$conversation_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'conversation_id', 0);

 	$start = $page * $count;

@ -1618,7 +1617,7 @@ function api_statuses_home_timeline($type)
 		$condition[0] .= " AND `item`.`id` <= ?";
 		$condition[] = $max_id;
 	}
-	if ($exclude_replies > 0) {
+	if ($exclude_replies) {
 		$condition[0] .= ' AND `item`.`parent` = `item`.`id`';
 	}
 	if ($conversation_id > 0) {
@ -1681,19 +1680,17 @@ function api_statuses_public_timeline($type)
 	// get last network messages

 	// params
-	$count = (x($_REQUEST, 'count') ? $_REQUEST['count'] : 20);
-	$page = (x($_REQUEST, 'page') ? $_REQUEST['page'] -1 : 0);
+	$count = defaults($_REQUEST, 'count', 20);
+	$page = (!empty($_REQUEST['page']) ? $_REQUEST['page'] -1 : 0);
 	if ($page < 0) {
 		$page = 0;
 	}
-	$since_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'since_id') ? $_REQUEST['since_id'] : 0);
-	$max_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'max_id') ? $_REQUEST['max_id'] : 0);
-	//$since_id = 0;//$since_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'since_id')?$_REQUEST['since_id'] : 0);
-	$exclude_replies = (x($_REQUEST, 'exclude_replies') ? 1 : 0);
-	$conversation_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'conversation_id') ? $_REQUEST['conversation_id'] : 0);
+	$since_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'since_id', 0);
+	$max_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'max_id', 0);
+	$exclude_replies = (!empty($_REQUEST['exclude_replies']) ? 1 : 0);
+	$conversation_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'conversation_id', 0);

 	$start = $page * $count;
-	$sql_extra = '';

 	if ($exclude_replies && !$conversation_id) {
 		$condition = ["`gravity` IN (?, ?) AND `iid` > ? AND NOT `private` AND `wall` AND NOT `user`.`hidewall`",
@ -1762,12 +1759,12 @@ function api_statuses_networkpublic_timeline($type)
 		throw new ForbiddenException();
 	}

-	$since_id        = x($_REQUEST, 'since_id')        ? $_REQUEST['since_id']        : 0;
-	$max_id          = x($_REQUEST, 'max_id')          ? $_REQUEST['max_id']          : 0;
+	$since_id        = defaults($_REQUEST, 'since_id', 0);
+	$max_id          = defaults($_REQUEST, 'max_id', 0);

 	// pagination
-	$count = x($_REQUEST, 'count') ? $_REQUEST['count']   : 20;
-	$page  = x($_REQUEST, 'page')  ? $_REQUEST['page']    : 1;
+	$count = defaults($_REQUEST, 'count', 20);
+	$page  = defaults($_REQUEST, 'page', 1);
 	if ($page < 1) {
 		$page = 1;
 	}
@ -2001,7 +1998,7 @@ function api_statuses_repeat($type)
 		$_REQUEST['profile_uid'] = api_user();
 		$_REQUEST['api_source'] = true;

-		if (!x($_REQUEST, "source")) {
+		if (empty($_REQUEST['source'])) {
 			$_REQUEST["source"] = api_source();
 		}

@ -2150,14 +2147,14 @@ function api_statuses_user_timeline($type)
 		Logger::DEBUG
 	);

-	$since_id        = x($_REQUEST, 'since_id')        ? $_REQUEST['since_id']        : 0;
-	$max_id          = x($_REQUEST, 'max_id')          ? $_REQUEST['max_id']          : 0;
-	$exclude_replies = x($_REQUEST, 'exclude_replies') ? 1                            : 0;
-	$conversation_id = x($_REQUEST, 'conversation_id') ? $_REQUEST['conversation_id'] : 0;
+	$since_id        = defaults($_REQUEST, 'since_id', 0);
+	$max_id          = defaults($_REQUEST, 'max_id', 0);
+	$exclude_replies = !empty($_REQUEST['exclude_replies']);
+	$conversation_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'conversation_id', 0);

 	// pagination
-	$count = x($_REQUEST, 'count') ? $_REQUEST['count'] : 20;
-	$page  = x($_REQUEST, 'page')  ? $_REQUEST['page']  : 1;
+	$count = defaults($_REQUEST, 'count', 20);
+	$page  = defaults($_REQUEST, 'page', 1);
 	if ($page < 1) {
 		$page = 1;
 	}
@ -2170,7 +2167,7 @@ function api_statuses_user_timeline($type)
 		$condition[0] .= ' AND `item`.`wall` ';
 	}

-	if ($exclude_replies > 0) {
+	if ($exclude_replies) {
 		$condition[0] .= ' AND `item`.`parent` = `item`.`id`';
 	}

@ -2309,10 +2306,10 @@ function api_favorites($type)
 		$ret = [];
 	} else {
 		// params
-		$since_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'since_id') ? $_REQUEST['since_id'] : 0);
-		$max_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'max_id') ? $_REQUEST['max_id'] : 0);
-		$count = (x($_GET, 'count') ? $_GET['count'] : 20);
-		$page = (x($_REQUEST, 'page') ? $_REQUEST['page'] -1 : 0);
+		$since_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'since_id', 0);
+		$max_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'max_id', 0);
+		$count = defaults($_GET, 'count', 20);
+		$page = (!empty($_REQUEST['page']) ? $_REQUEST['page'] -1 : 0);
 		if ($page < 0) {
 			$page = 0;
 		}
@ -2390,7 +2387,7 @@ function api_format_messages($item, $recipient, $sender)
 	}

 	//don't send title to regular StatusNET requests to avoid confusing these apps
-	if (x($_GET, 'getText')) {
+	if (!empty($_GET['getText'])) {
 		$ret['title'] = $item['title'];
 		if ($_GET['getText'] == 'html') {
 			$ret['text'] = BBCode::convert($item['body'], false);
@ -2400,7 +2397,7 @@ function api_format_messages($item, $recipient, $sender)
 	} else {
 		$ret['text'] = $item['title'] . "\n" . HTML::toPlaintext(BBCode::convert(api_clean_plain_items($item['body']), false, 2, true), 0);
 	}
-	if (x($_GET, 'getUserObjects') && $_GET['getUserObjects'] == 'false') {
+	if (!empty($_GET['getUserObjects']) && $_GET['getUserObjects'] == 'false') {
 		unset($ret['sender']);
 		unset($ret['recipient']);
 	}
@ -2530,7 +2527,7 @@ function api_get_attachments(&$body)
 */
 function api_get_entitities(&$text, $bbcode)
 {
-	$include_entities = strtolower(x($_REQUEST, 'include_entities') ? $_REQUEST['include_entities'] : "false");
+	$include_entities = strtolower(defaults($_REQUEST, 'include_entities', "false"));

 	if ($include_entities != "true") {
 		preg_match_all("/\[img](.*?)\[\/img\]/ism", $bbcode, $images);
@ -3119,15 +3116,15 @@ function api_lists_statuses($type)
 	}

 	// params
-	$count = (x($_REQUEST, 'count') ? $_REQUEST['count'] : 20);
-	$page = (x($_REQUEST, 'page') ? $_REQUEST['page'] - 1 : 0);
+	$count = defaults($_REQUEST, 'count', 20);
+	$page = (!empty($_REQUEST['page']) ? $_REQUEST['page'] - 1 : 0);
 	if ($page < 0) {
 		$page = 0;
 	}
-	$since_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'since_id') ? $_REQUEST['since_id'] : 0);
-	$max_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'max_id') ? $_REQUEST['max_id'] : 0);
-	$exclude_replies = (x($_REQUEST, 'exclude_replies') ? 1 : 0);
-	$conversation_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'conversation_id') ? $_REQUEST['conversation_id'] : 0);
+	$since_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'since_id', 0);
+	$max_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'max_id', 0);
+	$exclude_replies = (!empty($_REQUEST['exclude_replies']) ? 1 : 0);
+	$conversation_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'conversation_id', 0);

 	$start = $page * $count;

@ -3185,8 +3182,8 @@ function api_statuses_f($qtype)
 	}

 	// pagination
-	$count = x($_GET, 'count') ? $_GET['count'] : 20;
-	$page = x($_GET, 'page') ? $_GET['page'] : 1;
+	$count = defaults($_GET, 'count', 20);
+	$page = defaults($_GET, 'page', 1);
 	if ($page < 1) {
 		$page = 1;
 	}
@ -3194,7 +3191,7 @@ function api_statuses_f($qtype)

 	$user_info = api_get_user($a);

-	if (x($_GET, 'cursor') && $_GET['cursor'] == 'undefined') {
+	if (!empty($_GET['cursor']) && $_GET['cursor'] == 'undefined') {
 		/* this is to stop Hotot to load friends multiple times
 		*  I'm not sure if I'm missing return something or
 		*  is a bug in hotot. Workaround, meantime
@ -3522,7 +3519,7 @@ function api_direct_messages_new($type)

 	$replyto = '';
 	$sub     = '';
-	if (x($_REQUEST, 'replyto')) {
+	if (!empty($_REQUEST['replyto'])) {
 		$r = q(
 			'SELECT `parent-uri`, `title` FROM `mail` WHERE `uid`=%d AND `id`=%d',
 			intval(api_user()),
@ -3531,7 +3528,7 @@ function api_direct_messages_new($type)
 		$replyto = $r[0]['parent-uri'];
 		$sub     = $r[0]['title'];
 	} else {
-		if (x($_REQUEST, 'title')) {
+		if (!empty($_REQUEST['title'])) {
 			$sub = $_REQUEST['title'];
 		} else {
 			$sub = ((strlen($_POST['text'])>10) ? substr($_POST['text'], 0, 10)."...":$_POST['text']);
@ -3583,10 +3580,10 @@ function api_direct_messages_destroy($type)
 	// params
 	$user_info = api_get_user($a);
 	//required
-	$id = (x($_REQUEST, 'id') ? $_REQUEST['id'] : 0);
+	$id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'id', 0);
 	// optional
-	$parenturi = (x($_REQUEST, 'friendica_parenturi') ? $_REQUEST['friendica_parenturi'] : "");
-	$verbose = (x($_GET, 'friendica_verbose') ? strtolower($_GET['friendica_verbose']) : "false");
+	$parenturi = defaults($_REQUEST, 'friendica_parenturi', "");
+	$verbose = (!empty($_GET['friendica_verbose']) ? strtolower($_GET['friendica_verbose']) : "false");
 	/// @todo optional parameter 'include_entities' from Twitter API not yet implemented

 	$uid = $user_info['uid'];
@ -3838,7 +3835,7 @@ function api_direct_messages_box($type, $box, $verbose)
 */
 function api_direct_messages_sentbox($type)
 {
-	$verbose = (x($_GET, 'friendica_verbose') ? strtolower($_GET['friendica_verbose']) : "false");
+	$verbose = !empty($_GET['friendica_verbose']) ? strtolower($_GET['friendica_verbose']) : "false";
 	return api_direct_messages_box($type, "sentbox", $verbose);
 }

@ -3852,7 +3849,7 @@ function api_direct_messages_sentbox($type)
 */
 function api_direct_messages_inbox($type)
 {
-	$verbose = (x($_GET, 'friendica_verbose') ? strtolower($_GET['friendica_verbose']) : "false");
+	$verbose = !empty($_GET['friendica_verbose']) ? strtolower($_GET['friendica_verbose']) : "false";
 	return api_direct_messages_box($type, "inbox", $verbose);
 }

@ -3864,7 +3861,7 @@ function api_direct_messages_inbox($type)
 */
 function api_direct_messages_all($type)
 {
-	$verbose = (x($_GET, 'friendica_verbose') ? strtolower($_GET['friendica_verbose']) : "false");
+	$verbose = !empty($_GET['friendica_verbose']) ? strtolower($_GET['friendica_verbose']) : "false";
 	return api_direct_messages_box($type, "all", $verbose);
 }

@ -3876,7 +3873,7 @@ function api_direct_messages_all($type)
 */
 function api_direct_messages_conversation($type)
 {
-	$verbose = (x($_GET, 'friendica_verbose') ? strtolower($_GET['friendica_verbose']) : "false");
+	$verbose = !empty($_GET['friendica_verbose']) ? strtolower($_GET['friendica_verbose']) : "false";
 	return api_direct_messages_box($type, "conversation", $verbose);
 }

@ -3940,7 +3937,7 @@ function api_fr_photoalbum_delete($type)
 		throw new ForbiddenException();
 	}
 	// input params
-	$album = (x($_REQUEST, 'album') ? $_REQUEST['album'] : "");
+	$album = defaults($_REQUEST, 'album', "");

 	// we do not allow calls without album string
 	if ($album == "") {
@ -3992,8 +3989,8 @@ function api_fr_photoalbum_update($type)
 		throw new ForbiddenException();
 	}
 	// input params
-	$album = (x($_REQUEST, 'album') ? $_REQUEST['album'] : "");
-	$album_new = (x($_REQUEST, 'album_new') ? $_REQUEST['album_new'] : "");
+	$album = defaults($_REQUEST, 'album', "");
+	$album_new = defaults($_REQUEST, 'album_new', "");

 	// we do not allow calls without album string
 	if ($album == "") {
@ -4077,15 +4074,15 @@ function api_fr_photo_create_update($type)
 		throw new ForbiddenException();
 	}
 	// input params
-	$photo_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'photo_id') ? $_REQUEST['photo_id'] : null);
-	$desc = (x($_REQUEST, 'desc') ? $_REQUEST['desc'] : (array_key_exists('desc', $_REQUEST) ? "" : null)); // extra check necessary to distinguish between 'not provided' and 'empty string'
-	$album = (x($_REQUEST, 'album') ? $_REQUEST['album'] : null);
-	$album_new = (x($_REQUEST, 'album_new') ? $_REQUEST['album_new'] : null);
-	$allow_cid = (x($_REQUEST, 'allow_cid') ? $_REQUEST['allow_cid'] : (array_key_exists('allow_cid', $_REQUEST) ? " " : null));
-	$deny_cid = (x($_REQUEST, 'deny_cid') ? $_REQUEST['deny_cid'] : (array_key_exists('deny_cid', $_REQUEST) ? " " : null));
-	$allow_gid = (x($_REQUEST, 'allow_gid') ? $_REQUEST['allow_gid'] : (array_key_exists('allow_gid', $_REQUEST) ? " " : null));
-	$deny_gid = (x($_REQUEST, 'deny_gid') ? $_REQUEST['deny_gid'] : (array_key_exists('deny_gid', $_REQUEST) ? " " : null));
-	$visibility = (x($_REQUEST, 'visibility') ? (($_REQUEST['visibility'] == "true" || $_REQUEST['visibility'] == 1) ? true : false) : false);
+	$photo_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'photo_id', null);
+	$desc = defaults($_REQUEST, 'desc', (array_key_exists('desc', $_REQUEST) ? "" : null)) ; // extra check necessary to distinguish between 'not provided' and 'empty string'
+	$album = defaults($_REQUEST, 'album', null);
+	$album_new = defaults($_REQUEST, 'album_new', null);
+	$allow_cid = defaults($_REQUEST, 'allow_cid', (array_key_exists('allow_cid', $_REQUEST) ? " " : null));
+	$deny_cid  = defaults($_REQUEST, 'deny_cid' , (array_key_exists('deny_cid' , $_REQUEST) ? " " : null));
+	$allow_gid = defaults($_REQUEST, 'allow_gid', (array_key_exists('allow_gid', $_REQUEST) ? " " : null));
+	$deny_gid  = defaults($_REQUEST, 'deny_gid' , (array_key_exists('deny_gid' , $_REQUEST) ? " " : null));
+	$visibility = !empty($_REQUEST['visibility']) || $_REQUEST['visibility'] !== "false";

 	// do several checks on input parameters
 	// we do not allow calls without album string
@ -4097,7 +4094,7 @@ function api_fr_photo_create_update($type)
 		$mode = "create";

 		// error if no media posted in create-mode
-		if (!x($_FILES, 'media')) {
+		if (empty($_FILES['media'])) {
 			// Output error
 			throw new BadRequestException("no media data submitted");
 		}
@ -4188,7 +4185,7 @@ function api_fr_photo_create_update($type)
 			$nothingtodo = true;
 		}

-		if (x($_FILES, 'media')) {
+		if (!empty($_FILES['media'])) {
 			$nothingtodo = false;
 			$media = $_FILES['media'];
 			$data = save_media_to_database("photo", $media, $type, $album, $allow_cid, $deny_cid, $allow_gid, $deny_gid, $desc, 0, $visibility, $photo_id);
@ -4224,7 +4221,7 @@ function api_fr_photo_delete($type)
 		throw new ForbiddenException();
 	}
 	// input params
-	$photo_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'photo_id') ? $_REQUEST['photo_id'] : null);
+	$photo_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'photo_id', null);

 	// do several checks on input parameters
 	// we do not allow calls without photo id
@ -4275,11 +4272,11 @@ function api_fr_photo_detail($type)
 	if (api_user() === false) {
 		throw new ForbiddenException();
 	}
-	if (!x($_REQUEST, 'photo_id')) {
+	if (empty($_REQUEST['photo_id'])) {
 		throw new BadRequestException("No photo id.");
 	}

-	$scale = (x($_REQUEST, 'scale') ? intval($_REQUEST['scale']) : false);
+	$scale = (!empty($_REQUEST['scale']) ? intval($_REQUEST['scale']) : false);
 	$photo_id = $_REQUEST['photo_id'];

 	// prepare json/xml output with data from database for the requested photo
@ -4308,7 +4305,7 @@ function api_account_update_profile_image($type)
 	$profile_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'profile_id', 0);

 	// error if image data is missing
-	if (!x($_FILES, 'image')) {
+	if (empty($_FILES['image'])) {
 		throw new BadRequestException("no media data submitted");
 	}

@ -4326,9 +4323,9 @@ function api_account_update_profile_image($type)

 	// get mediadata from image or media (Twitter call api/account/update_profile_image provides image)
 	$media = null;
-	if (x($_FILES, 'image')) {
+	if (!empty($_FILES['image'])) {
 		$media = $_FILES['image'];
-	} elseif (x($_FILES, 'media')) {
+	} elseif (!empty($_FILES['media'])) {
 		$media = $_FILES['media'];
 	}
 	// save new profile image
@ -4788,8 +4785,8 @@ function prepare_photo_data($type, $scale, $photo_id)
 */
 function api_friendica_remoteauth()
 {
-	$url = (x($_GET, 'url') ? $_GET['url'] : '');
-	$c_url = (x($_GET, 'c_url') ? $_GET['c_url'] : '');
+	$url = defaults($_GET, 'url', '');
+	$c_url = defaults($_GET, 'c_url', '');

 	if ($url === '' || $c_url === '') {
 		throw new BadRequestException("Wrong parameters.");
@ -5092,7 +5089,7 @@ function api_in_reply_to($item)
 */
 function api_clean_plain_items($text)
 {
-	$include_entities = strtolower(x($_REQUEST, 'include_entities') ? $_REQUEST['include_entities'] : "false");
+	$include_entities = strtolower(defaults($_REQUEST, 'include_entities', "false"));

 	$text = BBCode::cleanPictureLinks($text);
 	$URLSearchString = "^\[\]";
@ -5224,7 +5221,7 @@ function api_friendica_group_show($type)

 	// params
 	$user_info = api_get_user($a);
-	$gid = (x($_REQUEST, 'gid') ? $_REQUEST['gid'] : 0);
+	$gid = defaults($_REQUEST, 'gid', 0);
 	$uid = $user_info['uid'];

 	// get data of the specified group id or all groups if not specified
@ -5289,8 +5286,8 @@ function api_friendica_group_delete($type)

 	// params
 	$user_info = api_get_user($a);
-	$gid = (x($_REQUEST, 'gid') ? $_REQUEST['gid'] : 0);
-	$name = (x($_REQUEST, 'name') ? $_REQUEST['name'] : "");
+	$gid = defaults($_REQUEST, 'gid', 0);
+	$name = defaults($_REQUEST, 'name', "");
 	$uid = $user_info['uid'];

 	// error if no gid specified
@ -5351,7 +5348,7 @@ function api_lists_destroy($type)

 	// params
 	$user_info = api_get_user($a);
-	$gid = (x($_REQUEST, 'list_id') ? $_REQUEST['list_id'] : 0);
+	$gid = defaults($_REQUEST, 'list_id', 0);
 	$uid = $user_info['uid'];

 	// error if no gid specified
@ -5467,7 +5464,7 @@ function api_friendica_group_create($type)

 	// params
 	$user_info = api_get_user($a);
-	$name = (x($_REQUEST, 'name') ? $_REQUEST['name'] : "");
+	$name = defaults($_REQUEST, 'name', "");
 	$uid = $user_info['uid'];
 	$json = json_decode($_POST['json'], true);
 	$users = $json['user'];
@ -5496,7 +5493,7 @@ function api_lists_create($type)

 	// params
 	$user_info = api_get_user($a);
-	$name = (x($_REQUEST, 'name') ? $_REQUEST['name'] : "");
+	$name = defaults($_REQUEST, 'name', "");
 	$uid = $user_info['uid'];

 	$success = group_create($name, $uid);
@ -5531,8 +5528,8 @@ function api_friendica_group_update($type)
 	// params
 	$user_info = api_get_user($a);
 	$uid = $user_info['uid'];
-	$gid = (x($_REQUEST, 'gid') ? $_REQUEST['gid'] : 0);
-	$name = (x($_REQUEST, 'name') ? $_REQUEST['name'] : "");
+	$gid = defaults($_REQUEST, 'gid', 0);
+	$name = defaults($_REQUEST, 'name', "");
 	$json = json_decode($_POST['json'], true);
 	$users = $json['user'];

@ -5604,8 +5601,8 @@ function api_lists_update($type)

 	// params
 	$user_info = api_get_user($a);
-	$gid = (x($_REQUEST, 'list_id') ? $_REQUEST['list_id'] : 0);
-	$name = (x($_REQUEST, 'name') ? $_REQUEST['name'] : "");
+	$gid = defaults($_REQUEST, 'list_id', 0);
+	$name = defaults($_REQUEST, 'name', "");
 	$uid = $user_info['uid'];

 	// error if no gid specified
@ -5650,7 +5647,7 @@ function api_friendica_activity($type)
 	$verb = strtolower($a->argv[3]);
 	$verb = preg_replace("|\..*$|", "", $verb);

-	$id = (x($_REQUEST, 'id') ? $_REQUEST['id'] : 0);
+	$id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'id', 0);

 	$res = Item::performLike($id, $verb);

@ -5732,7 +5729,7 @@ function api_friendica_notification_seen($type)
 		throw new BadRequestException("Invalid argument count");
 	}

-	$id = (x($_REQUEST, 'id') ? intval($_REQUEST['id']) : 0);
+	$id = (!empty($_REQUEST['id']) ? intval($_REQUEST['id']) : 0);

 	$nm = new NotificationsManager();
 	$note = $nm->getByID($id);
@ -5775,7 +5772,7 @@ function api_friendica_direct_messages_setseen($type)
 	// params
 	$user_info = api_get_user($a);
 	$uid = $user_info['uid'];
-	$id = (x($_REQUEST, 'id') ? $_REQUEST['id'] : 0);
+	$id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'id', 0);

 	// return error if id is zero
 	if ($id == "") {
@ -5824,7 +5821,7 @@ function api_friendica_direct_messages_search($type, $box = "")

 	// params
 	$user_info = api_get_user($a);
-	$searchstring = (x($_REQUEST, 'searchstring') ? $_REQUEST['searchstring'] : "");
+	$searchstring = defaults($_REQUEST, 'searchstring', "");
 	$uid = $user_info['uid'];

 	// error if no searchstring specified
@ -5886,7 +5883,7 @@ function api_friendica_profile_show($type)
 	}

 	// input params
-	$profile_id = (x($_REQUEST, 'profile_id') ? $_REQUEST['profile_id'] : 0);
+	$profile_id = defaults($_REQUEST, 'profile_id', 0);

 	// retrieve general information about profiles for user
 	$multi_profiles = Feature::isEnabled(api_user(), 'multi_profiles');
--- a/include/conversation.php
+++ b/include/conversation.php
@ -462,17 +462,17 @@ function conversation(App $a, array $items, Pager $pager, $mode, $update, $previ
 				. "<script> var profile_uid = " . $_SESSION['uid']
 				. "; var netargs = '" . substr($a->cmd, 8)
 				. '?f='
-				. ((x($_GET, 'cid'))    ? '&cid='    . rawurlencode($_GET['cid'])    : '')
-				. ((x($_GET, 'search')) ? '&search=' . rawurlencode($_GET['search']) : '')
-				. ((x($_GET, 'star'))   ? '&star='   . rawurlencode($_GET['star'])   : '')
-				. ((x($_GET, 'order'))  ? '&order='  . rawurlencode($_GET['order'])  : '')
-				. ((x($_GET, 'bmark'))  ? '&bmark='  . rawurlencode($_GET['bmark'])  : '')
-				. ((x($_GET, 'liked'))  ? '&liked='  . rawurlencode($_GET['liked'])  : '')
-				. ((x($_GET, 'conv'))   ? '&conv='   . rawurlencode($_GET['conv'])   : '')
-				. ((x($_GET, 'nets'))   ? '&nets='   . rawurlencode($_GET['nets'])   : '')
-				. ((x($_GET, 'cmin'))   ? '&cmin='   . rawurlencode($_GET['cmin'])   : '')
-				. ((x($_GET, 'cmax'))   ? '&cmax='   . rawurlencode($_GET['cmax'])   : '')
-				. ((x($_GET, 'file'))   ? '&file='   . rawurlencode($_GET['file'])   : '')
+				. (!empty($_GET['cid'])    ? '&cid='    . rawurlencode($_GET['cid'])    : '')
+				. (!empty($_GET['search']) ? '&search=' . rawurlencode($_GET['search']) : '')
+				. (!empty($_GET['star'])   ? '&star='   . rawurlencode($_GET['star'])   : '')
+				. (!empty($_GET['order'])  ? '&order='  . rawurlencode($_GET['order'])  : '')
+				. (!empty($_GET['bmark'])  ? '&bmark='  . rawurlencode($_GET['bmark'])  : '')
+				. (!empty($_GET['liked'])  ? '&liked='  . rawurlencode($_GET['liked'])  : '')
+				. (!empty($_GET['conv'])   ? '&conv='   . rawurlencode($_GET['conv'])   : '')
+				. (!empty($_GET['nets'])   ? '&nets='   . rawurlencode($_GET['nets'])   : '')
+				. (!empty($_GET['cmin'])   ? '&cmin='   . rawurlencode($_GET['cmin'])   : '')
+				. (!empty($_GET['cmax'])   ? '&cmax='   . rawurlencode($_GET['cmax'])   : '')
+				. (!empty($_GET['file'])   ? '&file='   . rawurlencode($_GET['file'])   : '')

 				. "'; var profile_page = " . $pager->getPage() . "; </script>\r\n";
 		}
@ -482,7 +482,7 @@ function conversation(App $a, array $items, Pager $pager, $mode, $update, $previ

 		if (!$update) {
 			$tab = 'posts';
-			if (x($_GET, 'tab')) {
+			if (!empty($_GET['tab'])) {
 				$tab = Strings::escapeTags(trim($_GET['tab']));
 			}
 			if ($tab === 'posts') {
@ -951,7 +951,7 @@ function builtin_activity_puller($item, &$conv_responses) {

 			$url = '<a href="'. $url . '"'. $sparkle .'>' . htmlentities($item['author-name']) . '</a>';

-			if (!x($item, 'thr-parent')) {
+			if (empty($item['thr-parent'])) {
 				$item['thr-parent'] = $item['parent-uri'];
 			}

@ -1064,7 +1064,7 @@ function format_like($cnt, array $arr, $type, $id) {
 		$expanded .= "\t" . '<div class="wall-item-' . $type . '-expanded" id="' . $type . 'list-' . $id . '" style="display: none;" >' . $explikers . EOL . '</div>';
 	}

-	$phrase .= EOL ;
+	$phrase .= EOL;
 	$o .= Renderer::replaceMacros(Renderer::getMarkupTemplate('voting_fakelink.tpl'), [
 		'$phrase' => $phrase,
 		'$type' => $type,
@ -1079,7 +1079,7 @@ function status_editor(App $a, $x, $notes_cid = 0, $popup = false)
 {
 	$o = '';

-	$geotag = x($x, 'allow_location') ? Renderer::replaceMacros(Renderer::getMarkupTemplate('jot_geotag.tpl'), []) : '';
+	$geotag = !empty($x['allow_location']) ? Renderer::replaceMacros(Renderer::getMarkupTemplate('jot_geotag.tpl'), []) : '';

 	$tpl = Renderer::getMarkupTemplate('jot-header.tpl');
 	$a->page['htmlhead'] .= Renderer::replaceMacros($tpl, [
@ -1100,7 +1100,7 @@ function status_editor(App $a, $x, $notes_cid = 0, $popup = false)

 	// Private/public post links for the non-JS ACL form
 	$private_post = 1;
-	if (x($_REQUEST, 'public')) {
+	if (!empty($_REQUEST['public'])) {
 		$private_post = 0;
 	}

@ -1432,11 +1432,11 @@ function sort_thr_commented(array $a, array $b)
 }

 function render_location_dummy(array $item) {
-	if (x($item, 'location') && !empty($item['location'])) {
+	if (!empty($item['location']) && !empty($item['location'])) {
 		return $item['location'];
 	}

-	if (x($item, 'coord') && !empty($item['coord'])) {
+	if (!empty($item['coord']) && !empty($item['coord'])) {
 		return $item['coord'];
 	}
 }
--- a/mod/admin.php
+++ b/mod/admin.php
@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ function admin_post(App $a)

 	// do not allow a page manager to access the admin panel at all.

-	if (x($_SESSION, 'submanage') && intval($_SESSION['submanage'])) {
+	if (!empty($_SESSION['submanage'])) {
 		return;
 	}

@ -167,14 +167,14 @@ function admin_content(App $a)
 		return Login::form();
 	}

-	if (x($_SESSION, 'submanage') && intval($_SESSION['submanage'])) {
+	if (!empty($_SESSION['submanage'])) {
 		return "";
 	}

 	// APC deactivated, since there are problems with PHP 5.5
 	//if (function_exists("apc_delete")) {
-	//	$toDelete = new APCIterator('user', APC_ITER_VALUE);
-	//	apc_delete($toDelete);
+	// $toDelete = new APCIterator('user', APC_ITER_VALUE);
+	// apc_delete($toDelete);
 	//}
 	// Header stuff
 	$a->page['htmlhead'] .= Renderer::replaceMacros(Renderer::getMarkupTemplate('admin/settings_head.tpl'), []);
@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ function admin_page_tos(App $a)
 		'$title' => L10n::t('Administration'),
 		'$page' => L10n::t('Terms of Service'),
 		'$displaytos' => ['displaytos', L10n::t('Display Terms of Service'), Config::get('system', 'tosdisplay'), L10n::t('Enable the Terms of Service page. If this is enabled a link to the terms will be added to the registration form and the general information page.')],
-		'$displayprivstatement' => ['displayprivstatement', L10n::t('Display Privacy Statement'), Config::get('system','tosprivstatement'), L10n::t('Show some informations regarding the needed information to operate the node according e.g. to <a href="%s" target="_blank">EU-GDPR</a>.','https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulation')],
+		'$displayprivstatement' => ['displayprivstatement', L10n::t('Display Privacy Statement'), Config::get('system', 'tosprivstatement'), L10n::t('Show some informations regarding the needed information to operate the node according e.g. to <a href="%s" target="_blank">EU-GDPR</a>.', 'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulation')],
 		'$preview' => L10n::t('Privacy Statement Preview'),
 		'$privtext' => $tos->privacy_complete,
 		'$tostext' => ['tostext', L10n::t('The Terms of Service'), Config::get('system', 'tostext'), L10n::t('Enter the Terms of Service for your node here. You can use BBCode. Headers of sections should be [h2] and below.')],
@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ function admin_page_tos(App $a)
 		'$submit' => L10n::t('Save Settings'),
 	]);
 }
+
 /**
 * @brief Process send data from Admin TOS Page
 *
@ -338,13 +339,13 @@ function admin_page_tos_post(App $a)
 {
 	BaseModule::checkFormSecurityTokenRedirectOnError('/admin/tos', 'admin_tos');

-	if (!x($_POST, "page_tos")) {
+	if (empty($_POST['page_tos'])) {
 		return;
 	}

-	$displaytos = ((x($_POST, 'displaytos')) ? True : False);
-	$displayprivstatement = ((x($_POST, 'displayprivstatement')) ? True : False);
-	$tostext = ((x($_POST, 'tostext')) ? strip_tags(trim($_POST['tostext'])) : '');
+	$displaytos = !empty($_POST['displaytos']);
+	$displayprivstatement = !empty($_POST['displayprivstatement']);
+	$tostext = (!empty($_POST['tostext']) ? strip_tags(trim($_POST['tostext'])) : '');

 	Config::set('system', 'tosdisplay', $displaytos);
 	Config::set('system', 'tosprivstatement', $displayprivstatement);
@ -354,6 +355,7 @@ function admin_page_tos_post(App $a)

 	return; // NOTREACHED
 }
+
 /**
 * @brief Subpage to modify the server wide block list via the admin panel.
 *
@ -407,13 +409,13 @@ function admin_page_blocklist(App $a)
 */
 function admin_page_blocklist_post(App $a)
 {
-	if (!x($_POST, "page_blocklist_save") && (!x($_POST['page_blocklist_edit']))) {
+	if (empty($_POST['page_blocklist_save']) && empty($_POST['page_blocklist_edit'])) {
 		return;
 	}

 	BaseModule::checkFormSecurityTokenRedirectOnError('/admin/blocklist', 'admin_blocklist');

-	if (x($_POST['page_blocklist_save'])) {
+	if (!empty($_POST['page_blocklist_save'])) {
 		//  Add new item to blocklist
 		$blocklist = Config::get('system', 'blocklist');
 		$blocklist[] = [
@ -429,7 +431,7 @@ function admin_page_blocklist_post(App $a)
 			// Trimming whitespaces as well as any lingering slashes
 			$domain = Strings::escapeTags(trim($domain, "\x00..\x1F/"));
 			$reason = Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['reason'][$id]));
-			if (!x($_POST['delete'][$id])) {
+			if (empty($_POST['delete'][$id])) {
 				$blocklist[] = [
 					'domain' => $domain,
 					'reason' => $reason
@ -451,12 +453,12 @@ function admin_page_blocklist_post(App $a)
 */
 function admin_page_contactblock_post(App $a)
 {
-	$contact_url = x($_POST, 'contact_url') ? $_POST['contact_url'] : '';
-	$contacts    = x($_POST, 'contacts')    ? $_POST['contacts']    : [];
+	$contact_url = defaults($_POST, 'contact_url', '');
+	$contacts    = defaults($_POST, 'contacts', []);

 	BaseModule::checkFormSecurityTokenRedirectOnError('/admin/contactblock', 'admin_contactblock');

-	if (x($_POST, 'page_contactblock_block')) {
+	if (!empty($_POST['page_contactblock_block'])) {
 		$contact_id = Contact::getIdForURL($contact_url);
 		if ($contact_id) {
 			Contact::block($contact_id);
@ -465,7 +467,7 @@ function admin_page_contactblock_post(App $a)
 			notice(L10n::t("Could not find any contact entry for this URL \x28%s\x29", $contact_url));
 		}
 	}
-	if (x($_POST, 'page_contactblock_unblock')) {
+	if (!empty($_POST['page_contactblock_unblock'])) {
 		foreach ($contacts as $uid) {
 			Contact::unblock($uid);
 		}
@ -559,13 +561,13 @@ function admin_page_deleteitem(App $a)
 */
 function admin_page_deleteitem_post(App $a)
 {
-	if (!x($_POST['page_deleteitem_submit'])) {
+	if (empty($_POST['page_deleteitem_submit'])) {
 		return;
 	}

 	BaseModule::checkFormSecurityTokenRedirectOnError('/admin/deleteitem/', 'admin_deleteitem');

-	if (x($_POST['page_deleteitem_submit'])) {
+	if (!empty($_POST['page_deleteitem_submit'])) {
 		$guid = trim(Strings::escapeTags($_POST['deleteitemguid']));
 		// The GUID should not include a "/", so if there is one, we got an URL
 		// and the last part of it is most likely the GUID.
@ -838,7 +840,7 @@ function admin_page_workerqueue(App $a, $deferred)
 		$info = L10n::t('This page lists the currently queued worker jobs. These jobs are handled by the worker cronjob you\'ve set up during install.');
 	}

-	$entries = DBA::select('workerqueue', ['id', 'parameter', 'created', 'priority'], $condition, ['order'=> ['priority']]);
+	$entries = DBA::select('workerqueue', ['id', 'parameter', 'created', 'priority'], $condition, ['order' => ['priority']]);

 	$r = [];
 	while ($entry = DBA::fetch($entries)) {
@ -938,7 +940,7 @@ function admin_page_summary(App $a)
 	$users = 0;
 	foreach ($r as $u) {
 		$accounts[$u['page-flags']][1] = $u['count'];
-		$users+= $u['count'];
+		$users += $u['count'];
 	}

 	Logger::log('accounts: ' . print_r($accounts, true), Logger::DATA);
@ -962,10 +964,10 @@ function admin_page_summary(App $a)
 	$max_allowed_packet = (($r) ? $r[0]['Value'] : 0);

 	$server_settings = ['label' => L10n::t('Server Settings'),
-				'php' => ['upload_max_filesize' => ini_get('upload_max_filesize'),
-						  'post_max_size' => ini_get('post_max_size'),
-						  'memory_limit' => ini_get('memory_limit')],
-				'mysql' => ['max_allowed_packet' => $max_allowed_packet]];
+		'php' => ['upload_max_filesize' => ini_get('upload_max_filesize'),
+			'post_max_size' => ini_get('post_max_size'),
+			'memory_limit' => ini_get('memory_limit')],
+		'mysql' => ['max_allowed_packet' => $max_allowed_packet]];

 	$t = Renderer::getMarkupTemplate('admin/summary.tpl');
 	return Renderer::replaceMacros($t, [
@ -1001,17 +1003,17 @@ function admin_page_site_post(App $a)
 		return;
 	}

-	if (!x($_POST, "page_site")) {
+	if (empty($_POST['page_site'])) {
 		return;
 	}

 	// relocate
-	if (x($_POST, 'relocate') && x($_POST, 'relocate_url') && $_POST['relocate_url'] != "") {
+	if (!empty($_POST['relocate']) && !empty($_POST['relocate_url']) && $_POST['relocate_url'] != "") {
 		$new_url = $_POST['relocate_url'];
 		$new_url = rtrim($new_url, "/");

 		$parsed = @parse_url($new_url);
-		if (!is_array($parsed) || !x($parsed, 'host') || !x($parsed, 'scheme')) {
+		if (!is_array($parsed) || empty($parsed['host']) || empty($parsed['scheme'])) {
 			notice(L10n::t("Can not parse base url. Must have at least <scheme>://<domain>"));
 			$a->internalRedirect('admin/site');
 		}
@ -1046,6 +1048,7 @@ function admin_page_site_post(App $a)
 				$a->internalRedirect('admin/site');
 			}
 		}
+
 		// update tables
 		// update profile links in the format "http://server.tld"
 		update_table($a, "profile", ['photo', 'thumb'], $old_url, $new_url);
@ -1059,7 +1062,7 @@ function admin_page_site_post(App $a)
 		update_table($a, "gcontact", ['connect', 'addr'], $old_host, $new_host);

 		// update config
-		Config::set('system', 'hostname', parse_url($new_url,  PHP_URL_HOST));
+		Config::set('system', 'hostname', parse_url($new_url, PHP_URL_HOST));
 		Config::set('system', 'url', $new_url);
 		$a->setBaseURL($new_url);

@ -1076,98 +1079,97 @@ function admin_page_site_post(App $a)
 	}
 	// end relocate

-	$sitename 		=	((x($_POST,'sitename'))			? Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['sitename']))		: '');
-	$hostname 		=	((x($_POST,'hostname'))			? Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['hostname']))		: '');
-	$sender_email		=	((x($_POST,'sender_email'))		? Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['sender_email']))		: '');
-	$banner			=	((x($_POST,'banner'))			? trim($_POST['banner'])			: false);
-	$shortcut_icon 		=	((x($_POST,'shortcut_icon'))		? Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['shortcut_icon']))		: '');
-	$touch_icon 		=	((x($_POST,'touch_icon'))		? Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['touch_icon']))		: '');
-	$info			=	((x($_POST,'info'))			? trim($_POST['info'])				: false);
-	$language		=	((x($_POST,'language'))			? Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['language']))		: '');
-	$theme			=	((x($_POST,'theme'))			? Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['theme']))			: '');
-	$theme_mobile		=	((x($_POST,'theme_mobile'))		? Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['theme_mobile']))		: '');
-	$maximagesize		=	((x($_POST,'maximagesize'))		? intval(trim($_POST['maximagesize']))		:  0);
-	$maximagelength		=	((x($_POST,'maximagelength'))		? intval(trim($_POST['maximagelength']))	:  MAX_IMAGE_LENGTH);
-	$jpegimagequality	=	((x($_POST,'jpegimagequality'))		? intval(trim($_POST['jpegimagequality']))	:  JPEG_QUALITY);
-
-
-	$register_policy	=	((x($_POST,'register_policy'))		? intval(trim($_POST['register_policy']))	:  0);
-	$daily_registrations	=	((x($_POST,'max_daily_registrations'))	? intval(trim($_POST['max_daily_registrations']))	:0);
-	$abandon_days	    	=	((x($_POST,'abandon_days'))		? intval(trim($_POST['abandon_days']))		:  0);
-
-	$register_text		=	((x($_POST,'register_text'))		? strip_tags(trim($_POST['register_text']))		: '');
-
-	$allowed_sites		=	((x($_POST,'allowed_sites'))		? Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['allowed_sites']))		: '');
-	$allowed_email		=	((x($_POST,'allowed_email'))		? Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['allowed_email']))		: '');
-	$forbidden_nicknames	=	((x($_POST,'forbidden_nicknames'))	? strtolower(Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['forbidden_nicknames'])))		: '');
-	$no_oembed_rich_content = x($_POST,'no_oembed_rich_content');
-	$allowed_oembed		=	((x($_POST,'allowed_oembed'))		? Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['allowed_oembed']))		: '');
-	$block_public		=	((x($_POST,'block_public'))		? True						: False);
-	$force_publish		=	((x($_POST,'publish_all'))		? True						: False);
-	$global_directory	=	((x($_POST,'directory'))		? Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['directory']))		: '');
-	$newuser_private		=	((x($_POST,'newuser_private'))		? True					: False);
-	$enotify_no_content		=	((x($_POST,'enotify_no_content'))	? True					: False);
-	$private_addons			=	((x($_POST,'private_addons'))		? True					: False);
-	$disable_embedded		=	((x($_POST,'disable_embedded'))		? True					: False);
-	$allow_users_remote_self	=	((x($_POST,'allow_users_remote_self'))	? True					: False);
-	$explicit_content	=	((x($_POST,'explicit_content'))	? True					: False);
-
-	$no_multi_reg		=	((x($_POST,'no_multi_reg'))		? True						: False);
-	$no_openid		=	!((x($_POST,'no_openid'))		? True						: False);
-	$no_regfullname		=	!((x($_POST,'no_regfullname'))		? True						: False);
-	$community_page_style	=	((x($_POST,'community_page_style'))	? intval(trim($_POST['community_page_style']))	: 0);
-	$max_author_posts_community_page	=	((x($_POST,'max_author_posts_community_page'))	? intval(trim($_POST['max_author_posts_community_page']))	: 0);
-
-	$verifyssl		=	((x($_POST,'verifyssl'))		? True						: False);
-	$proxyuser		=	((x($_POST,'proxyuser'))		? Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['proxyuser']))		: '');
-	$proxy			=	((x($_POST,'proxy'))			? Strings::escapeTags(trim($_POST['proxy']))			: '');
-	$timeout		=	((x($_POST,'timeout'))			? intval(trim($_POST['timeout']))		: 60);
-	$maxloadavg		=	((x($_POST,'maxloadavg'))		? intval(trim($_POST[</