HP 8.5 introduces a powerful new feature called the pipe operator (|>), which allows developers to pass the result of one expression directly into another function. This enables a more readable, linear, and functional programming style in PHP.

Instead of nesting functions or creating intermediate variables, developers can now build clear data transformation pipelines.

However, most built-in PHP functions and Laravel’s chainable classes were not originally designed for this style. To solve this, Spatie Piper provides a set of Laravel-inspired helper functions that are fully optimized for use with the pipe operator.

 

Working with Plain Values

Unlike Laravel Collections, which rely on wrapper objects, Piper works directly with native arrays and strings.

Each function takes a value, transforms it, and passes it along the pipeline:

use function Spatie\Piper\Arr\{filter, map, values, join};

$result = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
    |> filter(fn (int $i) => $i % 2 === 0)
    |> map(fn (int $i) => $i ** 2)
    |> values()
    |> join(', ', ', and ');

// Output: "4, 16, and 36"

This approach removes the need for wrapper objects while keeping the code clean and expressive.

 

Curried Functions Designed for Pipelines

All Piper functions are curried, meaning they return a callable when configured. This callable then receives the piped value.

For example:

filter(fn (int $i) => $i % 2 === 0)

does not execute immediately. Instead, it returns a function that will filter the array when it receives data from the pipe.

 

 

String Transformations in Pipelines
Piper also includes string utilities that work seamlessly in the same pipeline:

use function Spatie\Piper\Str\{lower, replace};

$greeting = 'Hello, World!'
    |> lower()
    |> replace('world', 'Piper');

// Output: "hello, piper"
 

Mixing Arrays and Strings
One of the most powerful features is the ability to mix arrays and strings in a single pipeline:

use function Spatie\Piper\Arr\{map, join};
use function Spatie\Piper\Str\{upper, prefix};

$headline = ['laravel', 'news']
    |> map(fn (string $word) => ucfirst($word))
    |> join(' ')
    |> upper()
    |> prefix('>> ');

// Output: ">> LARAVEL NEWS"

This flexibility makes Piper ideal for modern functional-style PHP development.

 

Installation

Install Spatie Piper via Composer:

composer require spatie/piper

Then import the required functions from:

• Spatie\Piper\Arr
• Spatie\Piper\Str