strpath

Strpath, short for string path, is a concept used to address and extract elements from nested data structures using human-readable string expressions. It is designed to be a lightweight alternative to more feature-rich query languages, offering a simple syntax that can be easily integrated into configuration systems, data processors, and templating tools.

The typical strpath syntax combines dot notation for object keys and bracket notation for array indices. A path like config.database.host refers to the host field inside the database object, while items within arrays are addressed with indices, as in users[3].name. Many implementations support additional features such as wildcards (for selecting multiple elements), escaping for keys containing dots or brackets, and basic filters. The goal is to provide intuitive navigation without requiring complex query language syntax.

In practice, strpath is used to retrieve values, update nested fields, or validate the presence of elements across varied data formats such as JSON, YAML, or in-memory data trees. Because the notation is string-based, it can be embedded in configuration files, command-line utilities, or data pipelines to simplify access patterns and reduce boilerplate code.

Variations of strpath exist across programming environments. They tend to differ in supported operators (wildcards, filters, negative indices), escaping rules, and performance characteristics. When adopting a strpath approach, developers consider consistency with existing data models, ease of use, and the ability to interoperate with other path-based systems like JSONPath or XPath.

See also: JSONPath, XPath, dot notation, path syntax.