# Variable Modifiers

Variable modifiers can be applied to
[variables](../language-variables/index.md), [custom tags](../language-custom-functions/index.md)
or strings. To apply a modifier,
specify the value followed by a `|` (pipe) and the modifier name. A
modifier may accept additional parameters that affect its behavior.
These parameters follow the modifier name and are separated by a `:`
(colon). 

Modifiers can be applied to any type of variables, including arrays
and objects.

## Examples

```smarty
{* apply modifier to a variable *}
{$title|upper}

{* modifier with parameters *}
{$title|truncate:40:"..."}

{* apply modifier to a function parameter *}
{html_table loop=$myvar|upper}

{* with parameters *}
{html_table loop=$myvar|truncate:40:"..."}

{* apply modifier to literal string *}
{"foobar"|upper}

{* using date_format to format the current date *}
{$smarty.now|date_format:"%Y/%m/%d"}

{* apply modifier to a custom function *}
{mailto|upper address="smarty@example.com"}

{* using  php's str_repeat *}
{"="|str_repeat:80}

{* php's count *}
{$myArray|@count}

{* this will uppercase the whole array *}
<select name="name_id">
{html_options output=$my_array|upper}
</select>
```  

## Combining Modifiers

You can apply any number of modifiers to a variable. They will be
applied in the order they are combined, from left to right. They must be
separated with a `|` (pipe) character.

```php
<?php

$smarty->assign('articleTitle', 'Smokers are Productive, but Death Cuts Efficiency.');
```

where template is:

```smarty
{$articleTitle}
{$articleTitle|upper|spacify}
{$articleTitle|lower|spacify|truncate}
{$articleTitle|lower|truncate:30|spacify}
{$articleTitle|lower|spacify|truncate:30:". . ."}
```


The above example will output:

```
Smokers are Productive, but Death Cuts Efficiency.
S M O K E R S   A R ....snip....  H   C U T S   E F F I C I E N C Y .
s m o k e r s   a r ....snip....  b u t   d e a t h   c u t s...
s m o k e r s   a r e   p r o d u c t i v e ,   b u t . . .
s m o k e r s   a r e   p. . .
```

## Using modifiers in expressions

Modifiers can also be used in expressions. For example, you can use the [isset modifier](./language-modifier-isset.md)
to test if a variable holds a value different from null.

```smarty
{if $varA|isset}
    <b>variable A is set</b>
{/if}
```

You can also use modifiers in expressions in a PHP-style syntax:

```smarty
{if isset($varA)}
    <b>variable A is set</b>
{/if}
```

See also [`registerPlugin()`](../../programmers/api-functions/api-register-plugin.md), [combining
modifiers](../language-combining-modifiers.md). and [extending smarty with
plugins](../../api/extending/introduction.md)