parse_ini_file() loads in the ini file specified in filename, and returns the settings in it in an associative array. By setting the last process_sections parameter to TRUE, you get a multidimensional array, with the section names and settings included. The default for process_sections is FALSE
Note: This function has nothing to do with the php.ini file. It is already processed, the time you run your script. This function can be used to read in your own application's configuration files.
The structure of the ini file is similar to that of the php.ini's.
Would produce: