---
title: "Fluid Syntax: Expressions"
manual: "Fluid Explained"
version: "main"
permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/fluid:expressions-syntax"
source: "Syntax/Expressions.rst"
rendered: "2026-09-26T08:24:58+00:00"
---

# Fluid Syntax: Expressions {#expressions-syntax}

The syntax for expressions in Fluid is a mix between plain
variable access (e. g. `{variable}`) and ViewHelper usage in inline mode
(e.g. `{myArray -> f:count()}`).

Fluid's expression syntax is extendable, but in most circumstances the
following features are available. See
[Expression Nodes](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/fluid:creating-expressionnodes)
to learn how to extend Fluid's expression behavior.

## Objects and arrays {#objects-syntax}

Within a ViewHelper call, arrays (with numeric keys) and object structures can be
defined inline:

```xml
<f:variable name="myArray" value="{0: 'first item', 1: 'second item'}" />

<f:variable name="myObject" value="{abc: 'first item', def: 'second item'}" />

<f:variable name="myOtherObject" value="{'abc 123': 'first item', 'def 456': 'second item'}" />
```

These can also be nested and indented:

```xml
<f:variable name="myArrayOfObjects" value="{
    0: {label: 'first item'},
    1: {label: 'second item'},
}" />
```

Trailing commas are valid syntax and are recommended to create cleaner diffs in
version control systems.

## Type casting {#type-casting}

The `as` expression can be used to convert variables to a different type.
For example, `{myPossiblyArray as array}` will ensure that `{myPossiblyArray}`
is accessed as an array even if it is of a different type such as `null`, which is
useful if you are passing a value to a ViewHelper like [\<f:for>](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/fluid:typo3fluid-fluid-for)
that requires an array as input. Other supported types for casting are: `integer`,
`boolean`, `string`, `float` and `DateTime`.

If you use `as array` on a string that contains comma-separated values, the
string is split at each comma, similar to PHP's
[explode](https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.explode.php) function.

## Math expressions {#math-expressions}

Fluid supports basic math operations. For `myNumber = 6`, the following expressions
result in:

```xml
{myNumber + 3} <!-- result: 9 -->
{myNumber - 3} <!-- result: 3 -->
{myNumber * 3} <!-- result: 18 -->
{myNumber / 3} <!-- result: 2 -->
{myNumber % 3} <!-- result: 0 -->
{myNumber ^ 3} <!-- result: 216 -->
```

## Ternary expressions {#ternary-expressions}

Fluid supports the ternary operator for variables, allowing you to switch
between two variables based on the value of a variable. For static values,
like a string, this is **not** supported.

```xml
{checkVariable ? thenVariable : elseVariable}
```

If `{checkVariable}` evaluates to `true`, variable `{thenVariable}` is
used, otherwise variable `{elseVariable}` is used.