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Comparison Laravel Package
php-standard-library/comparison
Interfaces and functions for type-safe, consistent value comparison in PHP, part of the PHP Standard Library. Provides predictable equality and ordering semantics across values, helping you write reliable, uniform comparison logic in your applications.
Interfaces and functions for type-safe, consistent value comparison
Frequently asked questions about Comparison
- What is php-standard-library/comparison used for in Laravel applications?
- It provides interfaces and functions for type-safe, consistent value comparison in PHP. In Laravel, that usually means domain value objects, custom sorting rules, or deterministic equality checks in tests. It is not a Laravel integration package, so you still write the glue for collections, requests, and Eloquent. Use it only if you have a repeated comparison contract to standardize.
- How do I install php-standard-library/comparison in a Laravel app?
- Run composer require php-standard-library/comparison in the Laravel project root. There is no migration, service provider, config publish, or schema change to run. After install, verify the exact API against the installed version because the README is a stub that points to external documentation. Keep the dependency isolated behind your own domain interfaces so removal stays simple.
- Does php-standard-library/comparison support Laravel 10, 11, and 12?
- The package is framework-agnostic, so Laravel compatibility is driven by its PHP constraint rather than Laravel-specific code. It fits Laravel 10, 11, and 12 projects on PHP 8.1+ when Composer accepts the installed PHP version. Check the package's composer.json for the exact PHP requirement before upgrading Laravel or PHP.
- Does php-standard-library/comparison add a service provider or config file to Laravel?
- No. It is a leaf utility package with no service provider, config file, container bindings, routes, migrations, or Blade integration. Composer autoloading is the only Laravel-level wiring. That keeps it safe to drop in but also means it provides no framework leverage.
- When should I use this package instead of PHP's spaceship operator or Collection::sortBy?
- For most Laravel code, native comparison with the spaceship operator, strict equality, and Collection::sort or sortBy is the correct tool. This package becomes defensible when you need a named, injectable, testable comparison contract shared by several domain consumers, such as Money, DateRange, or Tier value objects. Avoid adding it for one-off sorting callbacks or hypothetical consistency.
- Can php-standard-library/comparison be used for Eloquent or database ordering?
- No. Database ordering should stay SQL-side with orderBy, because moving comparison into PHP can load rows that the database should have filtered or sorted. The package is better suited to in-memory domain objects and deterministic test assertions. It is not a fit for validation rules, Blade conditionals, or hot loops.
- What API does php-standard-library/comparison actually expose?
- The repository README is a stub that defers to an external documentation site, so verify the installed source and composer metadata before coding against named classes or helpers. Do not assume APIs from blog posts or internal notes, such as Comparator::greaterThan, Comparison::sort, or comparison()->yesNo(), are present. Treat examples as speculative until confirmed in the exact version you install. This matters because release notes are one-line pointers to the monorepo release.
- How should I test comparison logic from php-standard-library/comparison in Laravel?
- Test it as pure PHP logic with PHPUnit or Pest, using small value objects and explicit expected orderings. Assert equality, ordering, and edge cases such as equal values, null-like states, and mixed business rules. No Laravel test doubles or container setup are required because the package has no framework hooks. Keep tests around your own comparison contract so you can swap implementations later.
- What are the alternatives to php-standard-library/comparison?
- Common alternatives are native === and <=>, Collection::sortBy for in-memory Laravel collections, Symfony Comparator which often arrives transitively in Laravel installs, and a small in-house comparison interface. An in-house interface of roughly 50 lines plus Symfony Comparator can cover many needs with no added external maintainer risk. Choose the package only if its contract reduces repeated domain comparison code.
- Is php-standard-library/comparison safe for production, and how hard is it to remove?
- Runtime risk is low because it is MIT-licensed pure PHP with no dependencies or side effects. Ecosystem risk is medium-to-high: the package has weak public signals, docs and issues live in another repo, and version 6.2.1 reflects the monorepo release train rather than this package's individual maturity. Future-dated release metadata from automated split tagging should not be read as proof of active maintenance. Removal cost should be low if you isolate it behind your own interfaces; if it is not, you have over-coupled.
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