php if $_POST
if( isset($_POST['fromPerson']) ) { $fromPerson = '+from%3A'.$_POST['fromPerson']; echo $fromPerson; } //Note: This resolves as true even if all $_POST values are empty strings if (!empty($_POST)) { // handle post data $fromPerson = '+from%3A'.$_POST['fromPerson']; echo $fromPerson; }