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[Utility & Helpers](/categories/utility) 4. / 5. forrest79/strict-types ActiveLibrary[Utility & Helpers](/categories/utility) forrest79/strict-types ====================== Narrowing and documenting PHP types v1.0.1(2mo ago)019BSD-3-ClausePHPPHP ^8.3CI passing Since Feb 25Pushed 2mo agoCompare [ Source](https://github.com/forrest79/strict-types)[ Packagist](https://packagist.org/packages/forrest79/strict-types)[ RSS](/packages/forrest79-strict-types/feed)WikiDiscussions master Synced 1mo ago READMEChangelogDependencies (7)Versions (3)Used By (0) StrictTypes =========== [](#stricttypes) [![Latest Stable Version](https://camo.githubusercontent.com/46e4dcf222a2208a98c9e979a3f9ebf1cca5494ecf3e0bfc44920f53d3aa002a/68747470733a2f2f706f7365722e707567782e6f72672f666f727265737437392f7374726963742d74797065732f76)](//packagist.org/packages/forrest79/strict-types)[![Monthly Downloads](https://camo.githubusercontent.com/b995494b9d488ead0d643124c2b48d4b33d330b174259e24909589ebbf45b37e/68747470733a2f2f706f7365722e707567782e6f72672f666f727265737437392f7374726963742d74797065732f642f6d6f6e74686c79)](//packagist.org/packages/forrest79/strict-types)[![License](https://camo.githubusercontent.com/c48ed8af73b7736c91c26b92c9abdd44ddcda486668a35e75e53cd08dd960720/68747470733a2f2f706f7365722e707567782e6f72672f666f727265737437392f7374726963742d74797065732f6c6963656e7365)](//packagist.org/packages/forrest79/strict-types)[![Build](https://github.com/forrest79/strict-types/actions/workflows/build.yml/badge.svg?branch=master)](https://github.com/forrest79/strict-types/actions/workflows/build.yml)[![codecov](https://camo.githubusercontent.com/305103d9b7c260332315a625f26cb55b30637380148fdfc95b24ea23bd0d2e02/68747470733a2f2f636f6465636f762e696f2f67682f666f727265737437392f7374726963742d74797065732f67726170682f62616467652e7376673f746f6b656e3d565346435736364a535a)](https://codecov.io/gh/forrest79/strict-types) Introduction ------------ [](#introduction) Provides global `as_*` functions that **check** (not cast) variable types and narrow them for [PHPStan](https://phpstan.org/). In development, when PHP assertions are enabled, an `AssertionError` is thrown if the variable does not match the expected type. These functions are useful anywhere you receive data as `mixed` and need to assert a concrete type — for example, when reading from a database, decoding JSON, or extracting values from arrays. Instead of writing `@var` annotations that are never verified, you let the library both document and validate the type. ``` // Before: annotation is not checked at all /** @var int $id */ $id = $row['id']; // After: type is narrowed for PHPStan and verified in development $id = as_int($row['id']); ``` > **Important:** These functions do **not** cast values. `as_int('42')` will throw an exception in development — the value must already be an `int`. Installation ------------ [](#installation) ``` composer require forrest79/strict-types ``` For development install also [forrest79/type-validator](https://github.com/forrest79/type-validator): ``` composer require --dev forrest79/type-validator ``` To enable type narrowing in PHPStan, include `extension.neon` in your PHPStan config: ``` includes: - vendor/forrest79/strict-types/extension.neon ``` Functions --------- [](#functions) ### Simple type functions [](#simple-type-functions) Function`as_int(mixed $value): int``as_int_nullable(mixed $value): int|null``as_float(mixed $value): float``as_float_nullable(mixed $value): float|null``as_bool(mixed $value): bool``as_bool_nullable(mixed $value):bool|null``as_string(mixed $value): string``as_string_nullable(mixed $value): string|null`All functions return the original value unchanged if it matches the expected type, or throw an `AssertionError` in development (when assertions are enabled) if it does not. ### Complex type function [](#complex-type-function) ``` as_type(mixed $value, string $type): mixed ``` Checks `$value` against a PHPDoc type string. The runtime check (powered by [forrest79/type-validator](https://packagist.org/packages/forrest79/type-validator)) runs only when assertions are enabled, so `forrest79/type-validator` is only a dev dependency. The PHPStan extension included with this library narrows the type for PHPStan regardless of whether assertions are enabled. > Because of PHPStan, the type description must be a static string — it cannot be generated dynamically. Examples -------- [](#examples) ### Simple types [](#simple-types) ``` // Reading from a database row (mixed values) $id = as_int($row['id']); // int $name = as_string($row['name']); // string $score = as_float($row['score']); // float $active = as_bool($row['active']); // bool // Nullable variants accept null as well $deletedAt = as_string_nullable($row['deleted_at']); // string|null $parentId = as_int_nullable($row['parent_id']); // int|null ``` ### Complex types with `as_type()` [](#complex-types-with-as_type) ``` // Decoded JSON is mixed — tell PHPStan and verify at runtime $data = json_decode($json, true); $data = as_type($data, 'array'); // A nested structure from an external API $items = as_type($response['items'], 'list'); // class-string narrowing $className = as_type($config['handler'], 'class-string'); // Union types $value = as_type($input, 'int|string'); ``` > All types supported by [forrest79/type-validator](https://github.com/forrest79/type-validator) are supported, which covers almost all PHPStan PHPDoc types. ### Replacing `@var` annotations [](#replacing-var-annotations) ``` // Before — the annotation is never enforced /** @var array $grouped */ $grouped = buildGroups($data); // After — verified in development, narrowed for PHPStan $grouped = as_type(buildGroups($data), 'array'); ``` ### Passing narrowed values directly to typed parameters [](#passing-narrowed-values-directly-to-typed-parameters) ``` function processUser(int $id, string $name): void { /* ... */ } // PHPStan knows the return types, so no extra annotation needed processUser( as_int($payload['id']), as_string($payload['name']), ); ``` ### Health Score 40 — FairBetter than 88% of packages Maintenance85 Actively maintained with recent releases Popularity8 Limited adoption so far Community6 Small or concentrated contributor base Maturity50 Maturing project, gaining track record Bus Factor1 Top contributor holds 100% of commits — single point of failure How is this calculated?**Maintenance (25%)** — Last commit recency, latest release date, and issue-to-star ratio. Uses a 2-year decay window. **Popularity (30%)** — Total and monthly downloads, GitHub stars, and forks. Logarithmic scaling prevents top-heavy scores. **Community (15%)** — Contributors, dependents, forks, watchers, and maintainers. Measures real ecosystem engagement. **Maturity (30%)** — Project age, version count, PHP version support, and release stability. ### Release Activity Cadence Every ~4 days Total 2 Last Release 77d ago ### Community Maintainers ![](https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/d979cd353c6593b44b50f90ff5a5eb4be224f501a70f7cce89d0735867e488e5?d=identicon)[forrest79](/maintainers/forrest79) --- Top Contributors [![forrest79](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/160766?v=4)](https://github.com/forrest79 "forrest79 (7 commits)") --- Tags phpPHPStanarraylisttypesnarrow ### Code Quality Static AnalysisPHPStan Type Coverage Yes ### Embed Badge ![Health badge](/badges/forrest79-strict-types/health.svg) ``` [![Health](https://phpackages.com/badges/forrest79-strict-types/health.svg)](https://phpackages.com/packages/forrest79-strict-types) ``` PHPackages © 2026 [Directory](/)[Categories](/categories)[Trending](/trending)[Changelog](/changelog)[Analyze](/analyze)