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TypoScript is just an array

Internally, TypoScript is parsed and stored as a PHP array. For example:

page = PAGE
page.10 = TEXT
page.10.value = Hello World
page.10.stdWrap.wrap = <h2>|</h2>

will be converted to the following PHP array:

$data['page'] = 'PAGE';
$data['page.']['10'] = 'TEXT';
$data['page.']['10.']['value'] = 'Hello World';
$data['page.']['10.']['stdWrap.']['wrap'] = '<h2>|</h2>';

Upon evaluation, a "PAGE" object will be created first, and the parameter $data['page.'] will be assigned to it. The "PAGE" object will then search for all properties, which it knows about. In this case, it will find a numeric entry ("10"), which has to be evaluated. A new object of type "TEXT" with the parameter $data['page.']['10.'] will be created. The "TEXT" object knows the parameters value and stdWrap. It will set the content of value accordingly. The parameters from stdWrap will be passed to the "stdWrap" function. There the property 'wrap' is known, and the text "Hello world" will be inserted at the pipe (|) position and returned.

It is important to be aware of this relationship in order to understand the behaviour of TypoScript. For example, if the above TypoScript is extended with the following line:

page.10.myFunction = Magic!

the following entry will be added to the PHP array:

$data['page.']['10.']['myFunction'] = 'Magic!';

However, the "TEXT" object does not know any property called "myFunction". Consequently, the entry will have no effect.

Important

No semantic error checking is done. If you define objects or properties which do not exist, you will not see any error message. Instead, those specific lines of TypoScript simply do nothing. This should be considered, especially while troubleshooting.