---
title: "Container Project"
description: "Flexible Data Containers for PHP"
type: "docs"
category: "doc"
tags: [php]
authors: [Anonymous]
date: "2026-08-24"
last_update: "2026-08-24"
time_minutes: 3
draft: false
unlisted: false
url: "https://www.derafu.dev/docs/data/container"
---

# Flexible Data Containers for PHP

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A collection of specialized PHP data containers that provide different levels of structure and validation, from simple bags to schema-validated stores.

## Features

- 🎯 Purpose-built containers for different needs.
- 🔍 JSON Schema validation support.
- 📦 Simple to complex data structures.
- 🔄 Sequential data handling.
- 🛡️ Type-safe operations.
- 🧩 Common interface across containers.
- 🪶 Minimal dependencies.
- 🧪 Comprehensive test coverage.

## Why Derafu\Container?

Unlike generic data structures, Derafu\Container provides specialized containers each designed for specific use cases:

- **Bag**: Simple, flexible data storage without restrictions.
- **Vault**: Basic structured data with validation.
- **Store**: Advanced data validation using JSON Schema.
- **Journal**: Sequential data storage with LIFO access.

## Installation

Install via Composer:

```bash
composer require derafu/container
```

## Basic Usage

### Bag - Flexible Container

```php
use Derafu\Container\Bag;

$bag = new Bag();
$bag->set('user.name', 'John');
$bag->set('user.email', 'john@example.com');

echo $bag->get('user.name'); // "John"
```

### Vault - Structured Container

```php
use Derafu\Container\Vault;

$vault = new Vault([], [
    'user' => [
        'type' => 'array',
        'required' => true,
        'schema' => [
            'name' => ['type' => 'string'],
            'age' => ['type' => 'integer'],
        ],
    ],
]);

$vault->set('user', [
    'name' => 'John',
    'age' => 30,
]);
```

### Store - JSON Schema Container

```php
use Derafu\Container\Store;

$schema = [
    'type' => 'object',
    'properties' => [
        'user' => [
            'type' => 'object',
            'required' => ['name', 'email'],
            'properties' => [
                'name' => ['type' => 'string'],
                'email' => ['type' => 'string', 'format' => 'email'],
            ],
        ],
    ],
];

$store = new Store([], $schema);
$store->set('user', [
    'name' => 'John',
    'email' => 'john@example.com',
]);
```

### Journal - Sequential Container

```php
use Derafu\Container\Journal;

$journal = new Journal();
$journal->add('First Entry');
$journal->add('Second Entry');

print_r($journal->reverse()); // Shows entries newest first.
```

## Container Comparison

| Feature           | Bag | Vault | Store | Journal |
|------------------|-----|--------|--------|----------|
| Schema           | No  | Simple | JSON   | No       |
| Validation       | No  | Basic  | Full   | No       |
| Nested Data      | Yes | Yes    | Yes    | No       |
| Sequential       | No  | No     | No     | Yes      |
| Dot Notation     | Yes | Yes    | Yes    | No       |

## Common Interface

All containers implement `ContainerInterface`:

```php
interface ContainerInterface extends ArrayAccess
{
    public function set(string $key, mixed $value): static;
    public function get(string $key, mixed $default = null): mixed;
    public function has(string $key): bool;
    public function clear(?string $key = null): void;
}
```

## Advanced Usage

### Custom Validation in Vault

```php
use Derafu\Container\Vault;

$vault = new Vault([], [
    'age' => [
        'type' => 'integer',
        'validator' => fn ($value) => $value >= 18
    ]
]);
```

### Complex JSON Schema in Store

```php
use Derafu\Container\Store;

$store = new Store([], [
    'type' => 'object',
    'properties' => [
        'users' => [
            'type' => 'array',
            'items' => [
                'type' => 'object',
                'required' => ['id', 'name'],
                'properties' => [
                    'id' => ['type' => 'integer'],
                    'name' => ['type' => 'string'],
                    'email' => ['type' => 'string', 'format' => 'email'],
                ],
            ],
        ],
    ],
]);
```

### Journal with Filtering

```php
use Derafu\Container\Journal;

$journal = new Journal();
$journal->add(['level' => 'info', 'message' => 'System started']);
$journal->add(['level' => 'error', 'message' => 'Connection failed']);

$errors = array_filter($journal->reverse(), fn($entry) =>
    $entry['level'] === 'error'
);
```



---
Last updated on 24/08/2026
#php