<?php function VS($x, $y) { var_dump($x === $y); if ($x !== $y) { echo "Failed: {$y}\n"; } } $reader = new XMLReader(); $reader->xml("<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?><a y=\"\" z=\"1\"></a>"); $reader->read(); VS($reader->getattribute("x"), null); VS($reader->getattribute("y"), ""); VS($reader->getattribute("z"), "1");