The difference when using if statement true === something() vs something() === true [duplicate]

Question

I've seen a lot of codes that places boolean in front, followed by comparison operator, and then the variable/function to test

if (true === something()) {
    doStuff();
}

Instead of the usual

if (something() === true) {
    doStuff();
}

Is there a real difference between them instead of personal preference?

Answer 1

The practice to put the value first for comparisons originates from a time when == was commonly used as a comparison operator (instead of === as today) and syntax highlighting and linting was not a standard. We just used simple text editors to write PHP at that time.

The "yoda style" syntax helped to avoid fatal typos in comparisons involving a variable:

$foo = false;
if ($foo = true) ...

silently results in true being assigned to variable $foo, which might not be the intention. (Also, the if is always true)

Whereas

$foo = false;
if (true = $foo) ...

results in a syntax error, saving you from a headache.