If an array item is declared with key as NULL, array key will automatically be converted to empty string '', as follows:

<?php
$a = array(
    NULL => 'zero',
    1    => 'one',
    2    => 'two');

// This will show empty string for key associated with "zero" value
var_dump(array_keys($a));

// Array elements are shown
reset($a);
while( key($a) !== NULL )
{
  echo key($a) . ": ".current($a) . "<br>";// PHP_EOL
  next($a);
}

// Array elements are not shown
reset($a);
while( key($a) != NULL ) // '' == null   => no iteration will be executed
{
  echo key($a) . ": ".current($a) . "<br>";// PHP_EOL
  next($a);
}