Go for:
if ($variable1 && $variable2) {
// Do something
}
else if ($variable1) {
// Do something
}
the reason is for example if you write like this :
the following is wrong approach
if ($variable1) {
// if u have two variables $variable1 and $variable2
// and you want to validate both but if the $variable1 contains
// nonzero value it will never go to the else part
}
else if ($variable1 && $variable2) {
// Do something
}
now basically
else if ($variable1) {
// Do something
}
and
else if ($variable1 && !$variable2) {
// Do something
}
are same.you can use any of them if you are not toooo much concerned about the performance.