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[Utility & Helpers](/categories/utility) 4. / 5. zakirullin/mess ActiveLibrary[Utility & Helpers](/categories/utility) zakirullin/mess =============== Convenient array-related routine & better type casting 0.8.6(9mo ago)21331.4k↓37.5%5[2 issues](https://github.com/zakirullin/mess/issues)2MITPHPPHP ^7.2|^8.0CI failing Since Jul 16Pushed 9mo ago6 watchersCompare [ Source](https://github.com/zakirullin/mess)[ Packagist](https://packagist.org/packages/zakirullin/mess)[ Docs](https://github.com/zakirullin/mess)[ RSS](/packages/zakirullin-mess/feed)WikiDiscussions master Synced 1w ago READMEChangelog (8)Dependencies (6)Versions (24)Used By (2) Mess ---- [](#mess) [![GitHub Build Status](https://github.com/zakirullin/mess/actions/workflows/php.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/zakirullin/mess/actions/workflows/php.yml/badge.svg)[![Psalm coverage](https://camo.githubusercontent.com/c6ea5bb8d8977fd152eacc0a2e4906ff35718101fdcc3183a7cec579e3981f4d/68747470733a2f2f73686570686572642e6465762f6769746875622f7a616b6972756c6c696e2f6d6573732f636f7665726167652e7376673f)](https://camo.githubusercontent.com/c6ea5bb8d8977fd152eacc0a2e4906ff35718101fdcc3183a7cec579e3981f4d/68747470733a2f2f73686570686572642e6465762f6769746875622f7a616b6972756c6c696e2f6d6573732f636f7665726167652e7376673f)[![PHP from Packagist](https://camo.githubusercontent.com/769ae8d1233867b3d15df91143d7e93d7a82c278807dcc2f690686d9625b6740/68747470733a2f2f696d672e736869656c64732e696f2f7061636b61676973742f7068702d762f7a616b6972756c6c696e2f6d6573732e7376673f7374796c653d666c61742d737175617265)](https://camo.githubusercontent.com/769ae8d1233867b3d15df91143d7e93d7a82c278807dcc2f690686d9625b6740/68747470733a2f2f696d672e736869656c64732e696f2f7061636b61676973742f7068702d762f7a616b6972756c6c696e2f6d6573732e7376673f7374796c653d666c61742d737175617265)[![Latest Stable Version](https://camo.githubusercontent.com/3da1b06909ec4f7d50f4ba7803e75df50a0742dc4b7089040c176feb213e4c28/68747470733a2f2f706f7365722e707567782e6f72672f7a616b6972756c6c696e2f6d6573732f762f737461626c652e737667)](https://packagist.org/packages/zakirullin/mess)[![GitHub commits](https://camo.githubusercontent.com/4f6506db1df2e0eb4c0076f0cc50c986efd356045b20b1ae125f205a1a56a3eb/68747470733a2f2f696d672e736869656c64732e696f2f6769746875622f636f6d6d6974732d73696e63652f7a616b6972756c6c696e2f6d6573732f302e312e302e7376673f7374796c653d666c61742d737175617265)](https://camo.githubusercontent.com/4f6506db1df2e0eb4c0076f0cc50c986efd356045b20b1ae125f205a1a56a3eb/68747470733a2f2f696d672e736869656c64732e696f2f6769746875622f636f6d6d6974732d73696e63652f7a616b6972756c6c696e2f6d6573732f302e312e302e7376673f7374796c653d666c61742d737175617265)[![Software License](https://camo.githubusercontent.com/55c0218c8f8009f06ad4ddae837ddd05301481fcf0dff8e0ed9dadda8780713e/68747470733a2f2f696d672e736869656c64732e696f2f62616467652f6c6963656e73652d4d49542d627269676874677265656e2e7376673f7374796c653d666c61742d737175617265)](LICENSE) We face a few problems in our PHP projects ------------------------------------------ [](#we-face-a-few-problems-in-our-php-projects) - Illogical type casting (`PHP`'s native implementation is way too "smart") - Pointless casts like `array => float` are **allowed** - Boilerplate code to work with arrays (check if `isset()`, throw an exception, cast the type, etc.) Consider an example: ``` $userId = $queryParams['userId'] ?? null; if ($userId === null) { throw ... } $userId = (int)$userId; ``` Way too verbose. Any ideas? --------------------------- [](#way-too-verbose-any-ideas) ``` $userId = (new Mess($queryParams))['userId']->getAsInt(); ``` You can mess with API responses/configs/whatever: ``` $mess = new Mess($response); $book = new Book( $mess['title']->getString(), $mess['isBestseller']->getBool(), $mess['stats']['rating']->getInt(), $mess['tags']->getListOfString() ); ``` Generics support (Psalm compatible) ----------------------------------- [](#generics-support-psalm-compatible) - `getListOfString()` - `getListOfInt()` - `getArrayOfStringToString()` - `getArrayOfStringToBool()` - etc. Installation ------------ [](#installation) ``` $ composer require zakirullin/mess ``` Dealing with mess ----------------- [](#dealing-with-mess) ``` $queryParams = new Mess(['isDeleted' => 'true']); $queryParams['isDeleted']->getBool(); // UnexpectedTypeException $queryParams['isDeleted']->getAsBool(); // true $value = new Mess('25'); $value->getInt(); // UnexpectedTypeException $value->getAsInt(); // 25 $value->getString(); // '25' $value = new Mess('25a'); $value->getInt(); // UnexpectedTypeException $value->getAsInt(); // UncastableValueException $config = new Mess(['param' => '1']); $config['a']['b']->getInt(); // MissingKeyException: "MissingKeyException: a.b" $config['a']['b']->findInt(); // null $config['param']->getInt(); // UnexpectedTypeException $config['param']->getAsInt(); // 1 $config['param']->findInt(); // UnexpectedTypeException $config['param']->findAsInt(); // 1 ``` As you might notice, type casting is performed while using `(find|get)As*` methods. Having trouble grasping `get*()`/`find*()`? Check out brilliant [Ocramius's slides](https://ocramius.github.io/doctrine-best-practices/#/94). Type casting with Mess is rather predictable -------------------------------------------- [](#type-casting-with-mess-is-rather-predictable) ``` '\d+' => int // OK 'buzz12' => int // UncastableValueException bool => int // UncastableValueException array => int // UncastableValueException object => int // UncastableValueException resource => int // UncastableValueException ``` Fairly simple, isn't it? Let us **fail fast**! ### Why one needs THAT naive type casting? [](#why-one-needs-that-naive-type-casting) Let's imagine a library that is configured this way: ``` $config = [ 'retries' => 5, // int 'delay' => 20, // int ] // Initialization $retries = $config['retries'] ?? null; if ($retries === null) { throw new MissingConfigKeyException(...); } ... $retries = (int)$retries; $delay = (int)$delay; ``` Client-side code: ``` $config => [ 'retries' => [5, 10, 30], // (int)array => 1 'delay' => true, // (int)bool => 1 ] ``` No matter if that's a misuse, or a result of major update: The system will continue to work. And that's the worst thing about it. It will continue to work, though, not in a way it was supposed to work. `PHP` is trying to do its best to let it work **at least somehow**. The library comes in handy in a variety of scenarios 🚀 ------------------------------------------------------ [](#the-library-comes-in-handy-in-a-variety-of-scenarios-) - Deserialized data - Request `body`/`query` - `API` response - Config - etc. ### Health Score 49 — FairBetter than 94% of packages Maintenance57 Moderate activity, may be stable Popularity44 Moderate usage in the ecosystem Community21 Small or concentrated contributor base Maturity61 Established project with proven stability Bus Factor1 Top contributor holds 89.3% 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 ~88 days Recently: every ~403 days Total 23 Last Release 287d ago PHP version history (2 changes)0.1.0PHP ^7.2 0.8.0PHP ^7.2|^8.0 ### Community Maintainers ![](https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/44e326ab3bffd640b622d3cecba8f5fc99bc0ec657ae59f841e871dbdead08ac?d=identicon)[zakirullin](/maintainers/zakirullin) --- Top Contributors [![zakirullin](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/3357383?v=4)](https://github.com/zakirullin "zakirullin (134 commits)")[![DavidGoodwin](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/203929?v=4)](https://github.com/DavidGoodwin "DavidGoodwin (12 commits)")[![the-toster](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/22966096?v=4)](https://github.com/the-toster "the-toster (2 commits)")[![danolshev](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/17455176?v=4)](https://github.com/danolshev "danolshev (1 commits)")[![szepeviktor](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/952007?v=4)](https://github.com/szepeviktor "szepeviktor (1 commits)") --- Tags phpjsontypearraylanguageassertcastmess ### Code Quality TestsPHPUnit Static AnalysisPsalm Type Coverage Yes ### Embed Badge ![Health badge](/badges/zakirullin-mess/health.svg) ``` [![Health](https://phpackages.com/badges/zakirullin-mess/health.svg)](https://phpackages.com/packages/zakirullin-mess) ``` ### Alternatives [pinkary-project/type-guard Type Guard module is part of the Pinkary Project, and allows you to \*\*narrow down the type\*\* of a variable to a more specific type. 198143.4k27](/packages/pinkary-project-type-guard)[hi-folks/data-block Data class for managing nested arrays and JSON data. 1453.3k](/packages/hi-folks-data-block) PHPackages © 2026 [Directory](/)[Categories](/categories)[Trending](/trending)[Changelog](/changelog)[Analyze](/analyze)