Keys and Dotted Paths

Keys & Dotted Paths

Every entry point stores data in a single nested tree. Two rules govern how a string key maps onto that tree. They are inherited from the underlying initphp/parameterbag store, which this package always configures in multi mode with case-insensitive keys.

Dotted paths

A dot (.) separates levels of nesting. Writing a dotted key creates the intermediate arrays automatically.

use InitPHP\Config\Library;

$config = new Library();
$config->set('db.connections.mysql.host', 'localhost');

$config->get('db.connections.mysql.host'); // 'localhost'
$config->get('db.connections.mysql');      // ['host' => 'localhost']
$config->get('db');                         // ['connections' => ['mysql' => ['host' => 'localhost']]]

Reading a path that hits a scalar before consuming every segment returns the default rather than descending into the scalar:

$config->set('app.name', 'InitPHP');
$config->get('app.name.first', 'n/a'); // 'n/a'

Case-insensitivity

Keys are folded to lower-case internally, so the case you use when reading does not have to match the case you used when writing.

$config->set('App.Database.Host', 'localhost');

$config->get('app.database.host'); // 'localhost'
$config->get('APP.DATABASE.HOST'); // 'localhost'
$config->has('app.DATABASE.host'); // true

This applies to every source:

• A file returning ['HOST' => 'localhost'] loaded under db is read back as db.host.
• A class AppConfig loaded with setClass() is read back under appconfig.

// config/db.php  ->  return ['HOST' => 'localhost'];
$config->setFile('db', __DIR__ . '/config/db.php');
$config->get('db.host'); // 'localhost'

Why case-insensitive? ParameterBag v2 is case-sensitive by default, but initphp/config opts into case-insensitivity so that file/class keys written in any casing (HOST, Host, host) resolve uniformly. This is configured internally and is not something callers turn off.

null values vs. missing keys

has() is the authoritative existence check: a key whose stored value is null is still considered present.

$config->set('feature.flag', null);

$config->has('feature.flag');                 // true
$config->get('feature.flag', 'fallback');     // null  (the stored value wins)
$config->has('feature.missing');              // false
$config->get('feature.missing', 'fallback');  // 'fallback'

Related reading

• Loaders — how each source populates the tree.
• Object Access — reading a subtree as a nested object.
• ParameterBag's own Nested Data and Case Sensitivity pages cover the underlying mechanics.