---
title: About the parse_config Resource
platform: os
---

# parse_config

Use the `parse_config` InSpec audit resource to test arbitrary configuration files.

<br>

## Availability

### Installation

This resource is distributed along with InSpec itself. You can use it automatically.

### Version

This resource first became available in v1.0.0 of InSpec.

## Syntax

A `parse_config` resource block declares the location of the configuration setting to be tested, and then what value is to be tested. Because this resource relies on arbitrary configuration files, the test itself is often arbitrary and relies on custom Ruby code:

    output = command('some-command').stdout

    describe parse_config(output, { data_config_option: value } ) do
      its('setting') { should eq 1 }
    end

or:

    audit = command('/sbin/auditctl -l').stdout
      options = {
        assignment_regex: /^\s*([^:]*?)\s*:\s*(.*?)\s*$/,
        multiple_values: true
      }

    describe parse_config(audit, options) do
      its('setting') { should eq 1 }
    end

where each test

* Must declare the location of the configuration file to be tested
* Must declare one (or more) settings to be tested
* May run a command to `stdout`, and then run the test against that output
* May use options to define how configuration data is to be parsed

<br>

## Matchers

For a full list of available matchers, please visit our [matchers page](https://www.inspec.io/docs/reference/matchers/).

### assignment_regex

Use `assignment_regex` to test a key value using a regular expression:

    'key = value'

may be tested using the following regular expression, which determines assignment from key to value:

    assignment_regex: /^\s*([^=]*?)\s*=\s*(.*?)\s*$/

### comment_char

Use `comment_char` to test for comments in a configuration file:

    comment_char: '#'

### key_values

Use `key_values` to test how many values a key contains:

    key = a b c

contains three values. To test that value to ensure it only contains one, use:

    key_values: 1

### multiple_values

Use `multiple_values` if the source file uses the same key multiple times. All values will be aggregated in an array:

    # # file structure:
    # key = a
    # key = b
    # key2 = c
    params['key'] = ['a', 'b']
    params['key2'] = ['c']

To use plain key value mapping, use `multiple_values: false`:

    # # file structure:
    # key = a
    # key = b
    # key2 = c
    params['key'] = 'b'
    params['key2'] = 'c'

### standalone_comments

Use `standalone_comments` to parse comments as a line, otherwise inline comments are allowed:

    'key = value # comment'
    params['key'] = 'value # comment'

Use `standalone_comments: false`, to parse the following:

    'key = value # comment'
    params['key'] = 'value'