https://next.c2platform.org/tags/variables/Recent content in Variables on C2 PlatformHugoenhttps://next.c2platform.org/docs/guidelines/coding/dot-vs-bracket-notation/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://next.c2platform.org/docs/guidelines/coding/dot-vs-bracket-notation/<div class="alert alert-primary" role="alert"> Prefer dot notation for fixed keys, for example <code>item.servername</code>. Use bracket notation only when dot notation is not suitable, for example with dynamic keys such as <code>item[var_name]</code>. </div> <h2 id="problem">Problem</h2> <p>Both dot notation and bracket notation are valid in Ansible and Jinja expressions. Without a clear rule, codebases drift into a mixture of styles such as <code>item.name</code>, <code>item['groups']</code>, and <code>item[var_name]</code>.</p> <p>This inconsistency makes code harder to scan and review. It also creates noise in examples and documentation, because readers have to infer whether the change in syntax is meaningful or merely stylistic.</p>