TOML to PHP Array Converter
Quickly convert TOML configuration files into PHP arrays for use in your applications. This online tool generates clean, readable PHP code from any TOML input, handling nested structures and data types correctly. Ideal for PHP developers working with config files.
How the TOML to PHP Array Converter Works
This tool converts TOML configuration files into PHP array syntax. Paste your TOML content and get a PHP array literal that you can return from config files, use in applications, or include in your PHP projects.
The converter maps TOML structures to PHP arrays: tables become associative arrays, arrays of values become indexed arrays, strings are properly quoted, booleans become true/false, numbers preserve their type.
Output follows PHP syntax conventions with proper quoting, array syntax ([] or array()), and formatting. Copy the generated code into your PHP configuration files or use it to migrate from TOML to PHP-native configs.
When You'd Actually Use This
Creating PHP configuration files
Many PHP frameworks use PHP arrays for config. Convert TOML configs to PHP array format for Laravel, Symfony, or custom framework configuration files.
Migrating from TOML to PHP configs
Your project used TOML but you want native PHP configs. Convert existing TOML files to PHP arrays. No parsing overhead, just include the config file.
Building PHP application settings
Store application settings in TOML for easy editing, convert to PHP arrays for production. Best of both: human-friendly editing, fast PHP loading.
Generating test data fixtures
Create test data in TOML, convert to PHP arrays for PHPUnit tests. Easier to maintain TOML than complex nested PHP array literals in test files.
Creating dependency injection configs
PHP DI containers often use array configs. Define services in TOML, convert to PHP arrays for container configuration. Cleaner than YAML.
Building multilingual content arrays
Store translations in TOML, convert to PHP arrays for your i18n system. Organize by language and key, generate PHP return arrays for each locale.
What to Know Before Using
PHP array syntax has evolved.Modern PHP (5.4+) uses short syntax []. Older code uses array(). The converter can generate either. Short syntax is recommended for new code.
String quoting matters in PHP.Single quotes for literal strings, double quotes for strings with variables or escapes. The converter uses single quotes by default for safety.
Nested arrays become multidimensional.TOML tables translate to nested PHP arrays. Access with $config['database']['host'] syntax. Deep nesting is valid but consider flattening for simplicity.
PHP arrays are ordered maps.PHP arrays maintain insertion order. TOML order is preserved in conversion. This matters for iteration and some serialization formats.
Pro tip: Wrap generated arrays in <?php return ...; for config files. Then load with require or include. Fast and simple configuration loading.
Common Questions
How do I load the generated PHP config?
Save as config.php with <?php return [...];. Load with: $config = require 'config.php';. The array is returned and assigned to your variable.
Can I load TOML directly in PHP?
Yes, use a TOML parser library like benmorel/toml-php or toml-php/toml. But native PHP arrays load faster—no parsing overhead.
What about PHP constants in configs?
Generated arrays use literal values. To use PHP constants (like PHP_EOL), you'll need to manually edit the generated code. TOML doesn't support constant references.
How do I handle environment-specific configs?
Generate base config from TOML, then override specific values in environment-specific PHP files. Or use $_ENV variables within the PHP config file.
Can I convert back from PHP to TOML?
This tool does TOML to PHP. For PHP to TOML, you'd need to eval the PHP (risky) or manually convert. Consider using a bidirectional converter tool.
Is the output PSR-compliant?
PSR-12 coding standards apply to PHP code. Generated arrays follow standard formatting. For config files, strict PSR compliance isn't usually required.
How do I add comments to PHP configs?
Add // or /* */ comments manually after generation. TOML comments don't transfer. PHP comments in config files help document settings for your team.
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