abather/custom-data-helpers

extend data helpers to include custom seperators.

v1.0.0 2026-01-13 20:48 UTC

Requires

• php: ^8.2
• illuminate/contracts: ^11.0||^12.0
• laravel/framework: ^11.0|^12.0
• spatie/laravel-package-tools: ^1.16

Requires (Dev)

• laravel/pint: ^1.14
• nunomaduro/collision: ^8.8
• orchestra/testbench: ^10.0.0||^9.0.0
• pestphp/pest: ^3.0|^4.0
• pestphp/pest-plugin-arch: ^3.0|^4.0
• pestphp/pest-plugin-laravel: ^3.0|^4.0

MIT

• Abather

• laravel
• data_set
• Abather
• custom-data-helpers
• data_get

README

Description

This Laravel package extends the default data helper functions (data_get, data_set, data_forget, data_has) to support custom separators instead of the hardcoded dot (.) notation.

Laravel's built-in data helpers are fantastic, but they use a fixed dot separator which can cause issues when your data keys contain actual dots. This package solves that problem by allowing you to specify any separator you want.

Installation

You can install the package via composer:

composer require abather/custom-data-helpers

That's it! The package will auto-register itself in Laravel and the helper functions will be available globally.

Usage

The package provides three ways to use custom data helpers:

1. Using the DataHelper Class (Recommended)

use Abather\CustomDataHelpers\DataHelper;

$data = ['users' => ['profile' => ['name' => 'John']]];

// Get value with custom separator
DataHelper::get($data, 'users/profile/name', '/'); // 'John'

// Get with default value
DataHelper::get($data, 'users/profile/age', '/', 25); // 25 (if key doesn't exist)

// Set value
DataHelper::set($data, 'users/profile/email', '[e-mail]', true, '/');

// Check existence
DataHelper::has($data, 'users/profile/name', '/'); // true

// Remove key
DataHelper::forget($data, 'users/profile/email', '/');

2. Using Global Helper Functions

// All DataHelper methods are also available as global helper functions with _ prefix
_data_get($data, 'users/profile/name', '/'); // 'John'
_data_set($data, 'users/profile/email', '[e-mail]', true, '/');
_data_has($data, 'users/profile/name', '/'); // true
_data_forget($data, 'users/profile/email', '/');

DataHelper::get() - Retrieve Values

Retrieve a value from a nested array or object using a custom separator.

use Abather\CustomDataHelpers\DataHelper;

// Basic usage with default dot separator (backward compatible)
$data = ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 100]]];
DataHelper::get($data, 'products.desk.price'); // 100

// Using custom separator
$data = ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 100]]];
DataHelper::get($data, 'products/desk/price', '/'); // 100

// With default value
DataHelper::get($data, 'products/desk/discount', '/', 0); // 0

// Using wildcards to get multiple values
$data = [
    'products' => [
        ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100],
        ['name' => 'Chair', 'price' => 50]
    ]
];
DataHelper::get($data, 'products/*/price', '/'); // [100, 50]

// Using placeholders
$flight = [
    'segments' => [
        ['from' => 'LHR', 'to' => 'IST'],
        ['from' => 'IST', 'to' => 'PKX'],
    ]
];
DataHelper::get($flight, 'segments->{first}->from', '->'); // 'LHR'
DataHelper::get($flight, 'segments->{last}->to', '->'); // 'PKX'

// Using different separators for different data structures
$config = ['app' => ['database' => ['host' => 'localhost']]];
DataHelper::get($config, 'app|database|host', '|'); // 'localhost'
DataHelper::get($config, 'app->database->host', '->'); // 'localhost'
DataHelper::get($config, 'app/database/host', '/'); // 'localhost'

DataHelper::set() - Set Values

Set a value within a nested array or object using a custom separator.

use Abather\CustomDataHelpers\DataHelper;

$data = [];

// Basic usage
DataHelper::set($data, 'products|desk|price', 200, true, '|');
// Result: ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 200]]]

// Using wildcards for bulk updates
$products = [
    ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100],
    ['name' => 'Chair', 'price' => 50]
];
DataHelper::set($products, '*/price', 0, true, '/');
// Sets all product prices to 0

// Conditional setting (don't overwrite existing values)
$data = ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 100]]];
DataHelper::set($data, 'products.desk.price', 200, false);
// Price remains 100

// Overwrite existing values (default behavior)
DataHelper::set($data, 'products.desk.price', 200, true);
// Price is now 200

// Create nested structures automatically
$data = [];
DataHelper::set($data, 'api/v1/endpoints/users', '/api/v1/users', true, '/');
// Result: ['api' => ['v1' => ['endpoints' => ['users' => '/api/v1/users']]]]

// Using object notation separator
$settings = [];
DataHelper::set($settings, 'app->theme->colors->primary', '#007bff', true, '->');
// Result: ['app' => ['theme' => ['colors' => ['primary' => '#007bff']]]]

DataHelper::has() - Check if Key Exists

Check if a key exists in an array or object using a custom separator.

use Abather\CustomDataHelpers\DataHelper;

$data = ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 100]]];

// Basic usage
DataHelper::has($data, 'products.desk.price'); // true
DataHelper::has($data, 'products.desk.discount'); // false

// Using custom separator
DataHelper::has($data, 'products->desk->price', '->'); // true
DataHelper::has($data, 'products/desk/price', '/'); // true
DataHelper::has($data, 'products|desk|stock', '|'); // false

// Works with nested objects
$object = (object) [
    'user' => (object) [
        'profile' => (object) ['name' => 'John']
    ]
];
DataHelper::has($object, 'user/profile/name', '/'); // true
DataHelper::has($object, 'user/profile/email', '/'); // false

// Using with different separators
$routes = [
    'api' => [
        'v1' => ['users' => 'UsersController']
    ]
];
DataHelper::has($routes, 'api/v1/users', '/'); // true
DataHelper::has($routes, 'api->v1->users', '->'); // true
DataHelper::has($routes, 'api.v1.posts', '.'); // false

DataHelper::forget() - Remove Values

Remove a value from a nested array or object using a custom separator.

use Abather\CustomDataHelpers\DataHelper;

$data = ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 100, 'stock' => 50]]];

// Basic usage
DataHelper::forget($data, 'products.desk.price');
// Result: ['products' => ['desk' => ['stock' => 50]]]

// Using custom separator
DataHelper::forget($data, 'products|desk|stock', '|');
// Result: ['products' => ['desk' => []]]

// Using wildcards to remove from multiple items
$products = [
    ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100, 'discount' => 10],
    ['name' => 'Chair', 'price' => 50, 'discount' => 5]
];
DataHelper::forget($products, '*/discount', '/');
// Removes 'discount' from all products

// Using different separators
$config = [
    'app' => [
        'debug' => true,
        'cache' => ['enabled' => true, 'ttl' => 3600]
    ]
];
DataHelper::forget($config, 'app/cache/ttl', '/');
// Result: ['app' => ['debug' => true, 'cache' => ['enabled' => true]]]

DataHelper::forget($config, 'app->cache->enabled', '->');
// Result: ['app' => ['debug' => true, 'cache' => []]]

Real-World Use Cases

1. Working with Keys Containing Dots

// API response with dotted keys
$config = [
    'app.name' => 'My Application',
    'app.env' => 'production',
    'database.host' => 'localhost'
];

// Access them safely using a different separator
$appName = _data_get($config, 'app.name', '|'); // 'My Application'

2. URL-Style Paths

$routes = [
    'api' => [
        'v1' => [
            'users' => 'UsersController@index'
        ]
    ]
];

$controller = _data_get($routes, 'api/v1/users', '/');
// 'UsersController@index'

3. Object Notation Style

$data = [
    'user' => [
        'profile' => [
            'settings' => [
                'theme' => 'dark'
            ]
        ]
    ]
];

$theme = _data_get($data, 'user->profile->settings->theme', '->');
// 'dark'

Backward Compatibility

The DataHelper class and helper functions use dot notation by default, making them compatible with Laravel's conventions. The package uses underscore-prefixed global functions (_data_*) to avoid conflicts with Laravel's built-in helpers.

// Using default dot separator (no conflicts with Laravel)
DataHelper::get($array, 'user.name');
DataHelper::set($array, 'user.email', '[e-mail]');
DataHelper::has($array, 'user.profile');
DataHelper::forget($array, 'user.settings');

// Or using global helpers
_data_get($array, 'user.name');
_data_set($array, 'user.email', '[e-mail]');
_data_has($array, 'user.profile');
_data_forget($array, 'user.settings');

Features

• ✅ Custom separator support for all data helpers
• ✅ Wildcard operations (*)
• ✅ Placeholder support ({first}, {last})
• ✅ Works with arrays and objects
• ✅ Laravel Collections support
• ✅ 100% backward compatible with Laravel's default helpers
• ✅ No configuration needed
• ✅ Auto-discovery enabled
• ✅ Fully tested

Requirements

• PHP 8.4 or higher
• Laravel 11.x or 12.x

Testing

composer test

Changelog

Please see CHANGELOG for more information on what has changed recently.

Contributing

Please see CONTRIBUTING for details.

Security Vulnerabilities

Please review our security policy on how to report security vulnerabilities.

Credits

• Abather
• All Contributors

License

The MIT License (MIT). Please see License File for more information.