## File format

A complete configuration consists of several files. These files are text files. Since `p11-kit` is built to be used in all sorts of environments and at very low levels of the software stack, we cannot make use of high level configuration APIs that you may find on a modern desktop.

Each setting in the config file is specified consists of a name and a value. The name is a simple string consisting of characters and dashes. The name consists of alpha numeric characters, dot, hyphen and underscore.

The value is specified after the name on the same line, separated from it by a `:` (colon). White space between the name and value is ignored.

Blank lines are ignored. White space at the beginning or end of lines is stripped. Lines that begin with a `#` character are ignored as comments. Comments are not recognized when they come after a value on a line.

A fictitious sample configuration file might look like:

    	name:value
    	# Here is a comment

    	setting.2: A long value with text.
    	x-custom : text