Pair framework: Input

Pair\Http\Input is the immutable request input object used by the explicit Pair v4 web controller path.

It gives controllers one small object for:

• HTTP method
• query-string values
• form or JSON body values
• normalized request headers
• merged typed accessors

Use Request for JSON API modules that extend Pair\Api\ApiController. Use Input for web modules that extend Pair\Web\Controller.

Constructor example

use Pair\Http\Input;

$input = new Input(
	'post',
	['status' => 'draft', 'page' => '2'],
	['status' => 'published', 'featured' => 'true'],
	['content-type' => 'application/json']
);

$input->method(); // POST
$input->query('status'); // draft
$input->body('status'); // published
$input->string('status'); // published
$input->int('page'); // 2
$input->bool('featured'); // true
$input->header('Content-Type'); // application/json

Merged accessors read from query + body, with body values taking precedence.

From globals

Input::fromGlobals() reads $_SERVER, $_GET, and $_POST. When there is no $_POST payload and the request advertises application/json, it parses the raw JSON body into the body array.

use Pair\Http\Input;

$input = Input::fromGlobals();

if ($input->method() === 'PATCH') {
	$changes = $input->only(['name', 'email', 'isActive']);
}

Invalid or empty JSON bodies are treated as an empty body array. The object does not store validation errors; validate at the controller or form layer.

In a Pair v4 web controller

use Pair\Web\Controller;
use Pair\Web\PageResponse;

require_once __DIR__ . '/classes/OrdersDefaultPageState.php';

/**
 * Orders module controller using the explicit Pair v4 request path.
 */
final class OrdersController extends Controller {

	/**
	 * Render the list page with typed query-string state.
	 */
	public function defaultAction(): PageResponse {

		$input = $this->input();

		$state = new OrdersDefaultPageState(
			status: $input->string('status', 'open'),
			page: max(1, $input->int('page', 1))
		);

		return $this->page('default', $state, 'Orders');

	}

}

Common typed reads

$search = $input->string('search', '');
$page = $input->int('page', 1);
$active = $input->bool('active');
$tags = $input->array('tags');
$hasSort = $input->has('sort');
$slice = $input->only(['search', 'page', 'sort']);

has() returns true for explicitly present falsy values such as 0, false, and ''. It returns false only when the merged value is null.

Notes

• method() always returns uppercase.
• headers() returns lowercase header names.
• header() accepts case-insensitive names.
• query(), body(), and value() return the full array when called without a key.
• Input is immutable; create a new object if tests or adapters need a different request shape.

See also: Controller, PageResponse, Request, API.