PlaceholderFormatter

The PlaceholderFormatter replaces {{placeholder}} markers in strings with values from a parameters array.

Usage

use Respect\StringFormatter\PlaceholderFormatter;

$formatter = new PlaceholderFormatter(['name' => 'John', 'age' => 30]);

echo $formatter->format('Hello {{name}}, you are {{age}} years old.');
// Outputs: Hello John, you are 30 years old.

Using Additional Parameters

The formatUsing method allows passing additional parameters at format time. Constructor parameters take precedence and won't be overwritten.

$formatter = new PlaceholderFormatter(['siteName' => 'MyApp', 'year' => 2024]);

echo $formatter->formatUsing(
    'Welcome to {{siteName}} - Hello {{userName}}! © {{year}}',
    ['userName' => 'John', 'year' => 2020] // year won't override constructor value
);
// Outputs: Welcome to MyApp - Hello John! © 2024

With Modifiers

Placeholders can include modifiers that transform values. Formatters can be used as modifiers using the pipe syntax.

$formatter = new PlaceholderFormatter([
    'date' => '2024-01-15',
    'amount' => '1234.567',
    'phone' => '1234567890',
]);

// Date formatting
echo $formatter->format('Date: {{date|date:Y/m/d}}');
// Output: Date: 2024/01/15

// Number formatting
echo $formatter->format('Amount: ${{amount|number:2}}');
// Output: Amount: \$1,234.57

// Pattern formatting
echo $formatter->format('Phone: {{phone|pattern:(###) ###-####}}');
// Output: Phone: (123) 456-7890

See the FormatterModifier documentation for all available formatters and options.

Multiple Pipes

You can chain multiple modifiers together using the pipe (|) character. Modifiers are applied sequentially from left to right.

$formatter = new PlaceholderFormatter([
    'phone' => '1234567890',
    'value' => '12345',
]);

// Apply pattern formatting, then mask sensitive data
echo $formatter->format('Phone: {{phone|pattern:(###) ###-####|mask:6-12}}');
// Output: Phone: (123) ******90

// Apply number formatting, then mask
echo $formatter->format('Value: {{value|number:0|mask:1-3}}');
// Output: Value: ***45

Escaped Pipes: If you need to use the pipe character (|) as part of a modifier argument (not as a separator), escape it with a backslash (\|):

$formatter = new PlaceholderFormatter(['value' => '123456']);

// Escaped pipe in pattern, then apply mask
echo $formatter->format('{{value|pattern:###\|###|mask:1-3}}');
// Output: ***|456

You can also use other modifiers like list and trans:

$formatter = new PlaceholderFormatter([
    'items' => ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry'],
]);

echo $formatter->format('Items: {{items|list:and}}');
// Output: Items: apple, banana, and cherry

See the Modifiers documentation for details.

API

__construct(array $parameters, Modifier|null $modifier = null)

Creates a new formatter instance.

• $parameters: Associative array of placeholder names to values
• $modifier: Optional modifier chain. If null, uses default modifiers.

format(string $input): string

Formats the template string by replacing placeholders with parameter values.

formatUsing(string $input, array $parameters): string

Formats with additional parameters merged with constructor parameters. Constructor parameters take precedence.

Template Syntax

Placeholders follow the format {{name}} where name is a valid parameter key. Modifiers can be added after a pipe: {{name|modifier}}. Multiple modifiers can be chained: {{name|modifier1|modifier2}}.

Rules:

• Names must match \w+ (letters, digits, underscore)
• Names are case-sensitive
• No whitespace inside braces or around the pipe
• Multiple pipes are separated by | and applied sequentially
• Escaped pipes (\|) within modifiers are treated as literal characters, not separators

Valid: {{name}}, {{user_id}}, {{name|raw}}, {{value|date:Y-m-d|mask:1-5}}

Invalid: {name}, {{ name }}, {{first-name}}, {{}}

Behavior

• Missing parameters: Placeholders are kept unchanged
• Null values: Converted to `null` string representation
• Empty strings: Valid replacements (placeholder becomes empty)
• Repeated placeholders: Each occurrence replaced independently
• Unicode: Fully supported in templates and values

Examples

Parameters	Template	Output
['name' => 'John']	"Hello {{name}}!"	Hello John!
['x' => 1, 'y' => 2]	"{{x}} + {{y}}"	1 + 2
['name' => 'John']	"{{name}} is {{age}}"	John is {{age}}
[]	"Hello {{name}}"	Hello {{name}}
['active' => true]	"Active: {{active}}"	Active: `true`

Limitations

• No nested placeholders: {{outer{{inner}}}}
• No expressions: {{x + y}}
• No conditional logic
• No default values syntax