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Sheath rule

blade-prefer-unless

Prefer @unless over @if(!...) for negative conditions.
Package
Core
Category
Blade
Default severity
info by default
Auto-fix
Manual fix

#Why

@unless ($user->hasVerifiedEmail()) expresses a negated condition without a leading !.

@unless wraps its condition before negating it, so @unless ($a && $b) compiles to if (! ($a && $b)). A hand-written @if (! $a && $b) compiles to if (! $a && $b), which negates only $a.

This is a stylistic preference, so it belongs to stylistic rather than recommended.

#Examples

#Bad

<!-- Negated conditions with @if -->

@if(!$user->isAdmin())

    <p>You don't have admin access.</p>

@endif



@if(!$authenticated)

    <a href="/login">Login</a>

@endif



@if(!count($items))

    <p>Your cart is empty.</p>

@endif



@if(!$post->published)

    <span class="badge">Draft</span>

@endif

#Good

<!-- Cleaner with @unless -->

@unless($user->isAdmin())

    <p>You don't have admin access.</p>

@endunless



@unless($authenticated)

    <a href="/login">Login</a>

@endunless



@unless(count($items))

    <p>Your cart is empty.</p>

@endunless



@unless($post->published)

    <span class="badge">Draft</span>

@endunless



<!-- @if is fine for positive conditions -->

@if($user->isAdmin())

    <a href="/admin">Admin Panel</a>

@endif



<!-- A negation that covers only part of the condition stays @if: rewriting

     it as @unless would mean De Morgan, not deleting a character -->

@if(!$user->isBanned() && $user->isActive())

    <a href="/dashboard">Dashboard</a>

@endif



@if(!$featured ? $fallback : $hero)

    <img src="{{ $image }}" alt="">

@endif

#Reading Comparison

Consider how these read in English:

Syntax Reads as
@if(!$user) "If not user..." (awkward)
@unless($user) "Unless there's a user..." (natural)
@if(!$authenticated) "If not authenticated..."
@unless($authenticated) "Unless authenticated..."

#When to Use @if vs @unless

Choose the directive that states the condition without an extra negation.

Use @if when Use @unless when
Positive condition Negative condition
@if($visible) @unless($hidden)
@if($loggedIn) @unless($guest)
@if($hasItems) @unless($isEmpty)

#Notes

  • This is a stylistic suggestion (severity: info)
  • Some teams prefer consistency with @if everywhere
  • A finding appears only when ! negates the entire condition, such as !$draft or !($a && $b). Conditions like @if (!$a && $b), !$a || $b, ternaries, and ?? chains are not reported because @unless could not take them unchanged
  • Complex negations may still be clearer with @if

#Related Rules