<?php //... function type_one( $index ) { if( !array_key_exists( $index, $this->classArray ) ) { return( FALSE ); } echo 'okay' . "\n"; return( TRUE ); } function type_one( $index ) { if( array_key_exists( $index, $this->classArray ) ) { echo 'okay' . "\n"; return( TRUE ); } } //I guess the difference is subtle but if the function is large you can end up with the entire contents nested within a condition or even multiple conditions //However it would make more send to me to do it this way because the code is within the condition and that makes more of a logical flow for me //As opposed to halting the function prematurely?>