How to simplify PHP logical operator? -

i have searched , read documentation , experimented on these logical operator seem nothing works. want simplify if statement if variable same don't need keep rewriting it. example:

<?php if($var_1 == 'val_1' || $var_1 == 'val_2' || $var_1 == 'val_3' || $var_2 == 'val_4' || $var_2 == 'val_2' || $var_3 == 'val_5') {     // } else {     .... } ?> 

i want simplify this:

<?php if($var_1 == ('val_1' || 'val_2' || 'val_3') || $var_2 == ('val_4' || 'val_2') || $var_3 == 'val_5') {     // something.. } ?> 

however code above not work, rather writing $var_1 on , on each different value, how write once ? strictly looking answers using if statement, not switch or other statement, know can use switch case, looking logical operator.

thank in advance.

you can use in_array() function. more on subject: http://php.net/manual/en/function.in-array.php . e.g.

<?php //define arrays or them query.. etc $array1 = array("val_1", "val_2", "val_3"); $array2 = array("val_4, val_2"); $array5 = array("val_5");  //check if variables in defined arrays if (in_array("var_1", $array1) || in_array("var_2", $array2) || in_array("var_3", $array3)) { //do  }  ?>