forms - php $_SERVER POST methods the new and more efficient style? -

i wrote relatively simple usable php query logging software couple of years , setup "plain vanilla" form, post method has separate page processes form below

1) input form displays submit button calls process-form.php 2) process-form.php processes form (e.g. enters data onto database) 3) process-form.php displays message if fine or not.

now, when go through php tutorials, teaching having form submit upon using $_server

<?php //use $_server function decipher if post method has been triggered if ($_server["request_method"] == "post") {      $name = $_post["name"];     $email = $_post["email"];     $message = $_post["message"];      //todo: send email, etc. } ?> 

i can see benefits of of method code remains compact have go 1 page instead of going other pages if need fix something. prevalent method now? asking trying learn. thank you!

you can use isset() or sizeof() or empty()

if (isset($_post))  {    $name = $_post["name"];    $email = $_post["email"];    $message = $_post["message"];     //todo: send email, etc. } 

or

if (sizeof($_post) > 0)  {    $name = $_post["name"];    $email = $_post["email"];    $message = $_post["message"];     //todo: send email, etc. } 

or

if (!empty($_post))  {    $name = $_post["name"];    $email = $_post["email"];    $message = $_post["message"];     //todo: send email, etc. }