Inflector

class Cake\Utility\Inflector

The Inflector class takes a string and can manipulate it to handle word variations such as pluralization or camelizing and is normally accessed statically. Example: Inflector::pluralize('example') returns "examples".

You can try out the inflections online at inflector.cakephp.org or sandbox.dereuromark.de.

Summary of Inflector Methods and Their Output

Quick summary of the Inflector built-in methods and the results they output when provided a multi-word argument:

Method	Argument	Output
pluralize()	BigApple	BigApples
	big_apple	big_apples
singularize()	BigApples	BigApple
	big_apples	big_apple
camelize()	big_apples	BigApples
	big apple	BigApple
underscore()	BigApples	big_apples
	Big Apples	big apples
humanize()	big_apples	Big Apples
	bigApple	BigApple
classify()	big_apples	BigApple
	big apple	BigApple
dasherize()	BigApples	big-apples
	big apple	big apple
tableize()	BigApple	big_apples
	Big Apple	big apples
variable()	big_apple	bigApple
	big apples	bigApples

Creating Plural & Singular Forms

Both pluralize and singularize() work on most English nouns. If you need to support other languages, you can use Inflection Configuration to customize the rules used:

// Apples
echo Inflector::pluralize('Apple');

NOTE

pluralize() should not be used on a noun that is already in its plural form.

// Person
echo Inflector::singularize('People');

NOTE

singularize() should not be used on a noun that is already in its singular form.

Creating CamelCase and under_scored Forms

These methods are useful when creating class names, or property names:

// ApplePie
Inflector::camelize('Apple_pie')

// apple_pie
Inflector::underscore('ApplePie');

It should be noted that underscore will only convert camelCase formatted words. Words that contains spaces will be lower-cased, but will not contain an underscore.

Creating Human Readable Forms

This method is useful when converting underscored forms into "Title Case" forms for human readable values:

// Apple Pie
Inflector::humanize('apple_pie');

Creating Table and Class Name Forms

When generating code, or using CakePHP's conventions you may need to inflect table names or class names:

// UserProfileSetting
Inflector::classify('user_profile_settings');

// user-profile-setting
Inflector::dasherize('UserProfileSetting');

// user_profile_settings
Inflector::tableize('UserProfileSetting');

Creating Variable Names

Variable names are often useful when doing meta-programming tasks that involve generating code or doing work based on conventions:

// applePie
Inflector::variable('apple_pie');

Inflection Configuration

CakePHP's naming conventions can be really nice - you can name your database table big_boxes, your model BigBoxes, your controller BigBoxesController, and everything just works together automatically. The way CakePHP knows how to tie things together is by inflecting the words between their singular and plural forms.

There are occasions (especially for our non-English speaking friends) where you may run into situations where CakePHP's inflector (the class that pluralizes, singularizes, camelCases, and under_scores) might not work as you'd like. If CakePHP won't recognize your Foci or Fish, you can tell CakePHP about your special cases.

Loading Custom Inflections

Define new inflection and transliteration rules for Inflector to use. Often, this method is used in your config/bootstrap.php:

Inflector::rules('singular', ['/^(bil)er$/i' => '\1', '/^(inflec|contribu)tors$/i' => '\1ta']);
Inflector::rules('uninflected', ['singulars']);
Inflector::rules('irregular', ['phylum' => 'phyla']); // The key is singular form, value is plural form

The supplied rules will be merged into the respective inflection sets defined in Cake/Utility/Inflector, with the added rules taking precedence over the core rules. You can use Inflector::reset() to clear rules and restore the original Inflector state.