NAME

       doc_help_elektra-key-names_mdelektra-key-names.md
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elektra-key-names(7) -- the names of keys

       Every Key object with the same name will receive the very same information from the global
       key database. The name locates a unique key in the key database. Key names are always
       absolute; so no parent or other information is needed. That makes a Key self-contained and
       independent both in memory and storage.

       Every key name starts with a namespace, for example user or system. These prefixes spawn
       key hierarchies each.

       The shared system configuration is identical for every user. It contains, for example,
       information about system daemons, network related preferences and default settings for
       software. These keys are created when software is installed, and removed when software is
       purged. Only the administrator can change system configuration.

       Examples of valid system key names:

           system
           system/hosts/hostname
           system/sw/apache/httpd/num_processes
           system/sw/apps/abc/current/default-setting

       user configuration is empty until the user changes some preferences. User configuration
       affects only a single user. The user's settings can contain information about the user's
       environment, preferred applications and anything not useful for the rest of the system.

       Examples of valid user key names:

           user
           user/env/#1/LD_LIBRARY_PATH
           user/sw/apps/abc/current/default-setting
           user/sw/kde/kicker/preferred_applications/#1

       The slash (/) separates key names and structures them hierarchically. If two keys start
       with the same key names, but one key name continues after a slash, this key is below the
       other and is called a subkey. For example user/sw/apps/abc/current is a subkey of the key
       user/sw/apps. The key is not directly below but, for example, user/sw/apps/abc is.
       keyRel() implements a way to decide the relation between two keys.