NAMEVALUE

Name-value refers to a data representation that pairs a name or key with an associated value. This simple construct creates a mapping in which the name identifies the information stored in the value. In many contexts the value is stored as a string, but applications may interpret it as numbers, booleans, or more complex structures.

Name-value pairs appear in a wide range of formats. In JSON, objects are collections of name-value pairs, such as {"user":"alice","active":true}. HTTP headers consist of field names and values, for example Content-Type: text/html. INI files store configuration as lines like key=value. Environment variables use NAME=VALUE to convey configuration to programs, and URL query strings encode parameters as name-value pairs, as in ?search=books&page=2.

Parsing and encoding considerations are central to their use. The delimiter and escaping rules vary by format (equals sign, colon, or space, with escapes for special characters). Many systems store values as strings but perform type conversion when needed. Serializers and parsers convert between textual representations and in-memory maps, dictionaries, or objects.

Applications and usage include configuration management, parameter passing in APIs, data interchange, and metadata tagging. Name-value representations offer simplicity, human readability, and broad compatibility, making them ubiquitous in software engineering. Limitations include limited inherent type information and the need for schemas or validation to ensure correctness. Security considerations involve sanitizing user-provided values, avoiding injection risks, and handling sensitive data with appropriate encoding and access controls. Standards and conventions exist across HTTP, MIME, INI, and URL syntax to promote interoperability.