{ PHP Config Generator }

// generate php config files visually in seconds

Generate PHP configuration files instantly. Build config arrays, .env files, constants, and INI files with a visual UI. Free, browser-based, no sign-up.

CONFIG ENTRIES
⚙️

Ready to generate

Add config entries and click Generate

HOW TO USE

  1. 01
    Add entries

    Click + Add Entry and fill in the key, value, and data type for each config item.

  2. 02
    Choose format

    Select your output format: PHP array, define() constants, .env, or INI file.

  3. 03
    Generate & copy

    Click Generate Config, then copy the output or download the file directly.

FEATURES

PHP Array Constants .env File INI File Strict Types Type Casting

USE CASES

  • 🔧 Bootstrap config files for new PHP projects
  • 🔧 Generate .env templates for teams
  • 🔧 Convert settings to typed PHP constants
  • 🔧 Create INI configs for PHP extensions

WHAT IS THIS?

The PHP Config Generator lets you visually build configuration files used in PHP projects — without typing boilerplate by hand. Define keys, values, and types, then export to your preferred format in one click.

RELATED TOOLS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What output formats are supported?

Four formats: PHP Array (returns an associative array, ideal for config.php), PHP Constants (uses define() with a prefix), .env File (KEY=VALUE pairs for use with dotenv libraries), and INI File (key = value syntax for parse_ini_file()).

What does the "Strict Types" option do?

When enabled, it prepends declare(strict_types=1); to the PHP array output. This is only applicable to the PHP Array format and enforces strict type checking in the generated file.

What types can I assign to values?

You can type each value as string, integer, float, boolean, or null. The generator will cast values correctly — for example, a boolean "true" becomes PHP's true, and a null entry becomes null in PHP or an empty value in .env.

How does the constant prefix work?

When using the PHP Constants format, every key is prefixed with the value you enter (default: APP) and uppercased. For example, a key named debug with prefix MY_APP becomes define('MY_APP_DEBUG', ...).

Is any data sent to a server?

Generation is handled locally via a lightweight PHP API endpoint on the same server. Your config values are never stored, logged, or shared. The page itself processes and immediately discards all data after responding.

What are the key name rules?

Keys must be alphanumeric and may include underscores. Spaces, dashes, and special characters are automatically stripped. For .env and INI formats, keys are automatically uppercased in the output.

Can I download the generated file?

Yes. After generating, click the ⬇ Download button. The file is saved with the correct extension for its format: .php, .env, or .ini.

Is there a limit to how many entries I can add?

The tool supports up to 100 config entries per generation. For most real-world config files, this is more than enough. If you need more, consider splitting your config into multiple domain-specific files.

What is a PHP Config Generator?

A PHP Config Generator is a tool that helps developers quickly create configuration files for PHP applications without writing repetitive boilerplate code manually. Instead of typing arrays, constants, or INI syntax from scratch, you define your key-value pairs through a visual interface and let the generator produce clean, correctly formatted output in your chosen format.

Configuration files are one of the most fundamental parts of any PHP application. They store settings like database credentials, API keys, feature flags, file paths, and environment-specific options. Getting the format right — especially when working across multiple environments like development, staging, and production — is critical for maintainability and security.

Why Use a Config Generator?

Writing config files by hand is error-prone. A missing quote, a misplaced comma, or a type mismatch can cause hard-to-diagnose bugs. A config generator eliminates these issues by producing syntactically correct output every time, with proper type handling for strings, integers, floats, booleans, and null values.

Teams that adopt a generator-based workflow find it easier to onboard new developers, standardize config structure across projects, and quickly scaffold configuration for new services or environments. Instead of copying and editing an existing config file and hoping you didn't miss anything, you build from a clean visual interface.

PHP Array Format

The PHP Array format generates a return [] style file that you load using require or include. This is the most flexible and popular approach in modern PHP applications and frameworks. Laravel's entire config system is built on this pattern.

Example output:

<?php
return [
    'db_host' => 'localhost',
    'db_port' => 3306,
    'debug'   => false,
];

When the Strict Types option is enabled, the generator also prepends declare(strict_types=1);, which enforces strict type checking and helps catch type coercion bugs early.

PHP Constants with define()

For legacy codebases or applications that prefer global constants, the define() format generates constant declarations with a customizable prefix. This is useful for bootstrapping configuration in older PHP projects or WordPress plugins where constants like DB_HOST and DB_NAME are standard.

You set the prefix (e.g., APP) and the generator automatically uppercases all keys and combines them: APP_DB_HOST, APP_DEBUG, etc. This prevents naming conflicts and makes it easy to grep for all related constants in a codebase.

.env File Format

The .env file format has become the standard way to handle environment-specific configuration in PHP applications, popularized by libraries like phpdotenv (used by Laravel) and symfony/dotenv. Environment variables separate configuration from code, allowing the same codebase to run differently in development and production.

The generator outputs valid KEY=VALUE pairs, automatically quoting values that contain spaces or special characters. Keys are automatically uppercased to follow the POSIX convention. The generated file includes a timestamp comment so you always know when it was created.

A critical security reminder: never commit .env files containing real secrets to version control. Use your generator output as a template (e.g., .env.example) and fill in real values per-environment.

INI File Format

PHP's built-in parse_ini_file() function reads INI files natively, making this format a lightweight choice for simple configurations that don't need a full autoloader. INI files are also commonly used for PHP extension configuration (e.g., php.ini, xdebug.ini).

The generator produces clean key = value pairs with a header comment, ready to be parsed with parse_ini_file('config.ini'). Boolean values are written as true or false to remain compatible with PHP's INI parser.

Type-Safe Configuration

One of the most common configuration bugs in PHP is type confusion — storing a port number as the string "3306" when your code expects an integer, or storing "false" as a string when a boolean is required. The PHP Config Generator lets you explicitly tag each value's type:

Best Practices for PHP Configuration Files

Regardless of format, there are some universal best practices for PHP configuration:

PHP Config in Modern Frameworks

Most modern PHP frameworks have their own config conventions, all of which this generator can help you scaffold:

Whatever your PHP project's structure, this tool helps you get config files started quickly, correctly, and without the tedium of writing boilerplate syntax.