Document that drupal_get_path() returns an empty string if the file is not found

Thanks -- we should document this in 8.x first and then backport to 7.x.

Here you go, this should be good?

Thanks! Can you clean up the grammar and combine the two possibilities? Something like:
@return
Blah blah blah, or foo if (whatever, but include a verb).

re-rolled, wasn't quite clear on the second part nor was anyone else in the office. maybe we're all terrible at grammar!

How about "... if the file is not found" for the second part?

It is less clear to call a module a "file" than an "item" so perhaps something like "....or an empty string if the item is not found." Perhaps something like the following:

/**
 * Returns the path to a system item (module, theme, etc.).
 *
 * @param $type
 *   The type of the item (i.e. theme, theme_engine, module, profile).
 * @param $name
 *   The name of the item for which the path is requested.
 *
 * @return
 *   The path to the requested item or an empty string if the item is not found.
 */
function drupal_get_path($type, $name) {
  return dirname(drupal_get_filename($type, $name));
}

#7 seems fine to me. Just make sure the line wraps if it goes over 80 characters. Thanks!

Looks like drupal_get_filename() returns NULL not an empty string when the file does not exist. There should be a test that asserts this.

I re-rolled using the comment from #7. The test function in #10 seems to indicate that it is an empty string.

Thanks! I'll get this committed when the test result turns green.

Does the backport for V7 go in this issue too?

It will, but wait until the 8.x version is committed. Often the same patch can be applied and no one has to do any more work backporting it. :)

Thanks again -- Committed to both 8.x and 7.x (no port required).