src/Zend/Config/Ini.php
protected function _processSection($iniArray, $section, $config = array())
    {
        $thisSection = $iniArray[$section];

        foreach ($thisSection as $key => $value) {
            if (strtolower($key) == ';extends') {
                if (isset($iniArray[$value])) {
                    $this->_assertValidExtend($section, $value);

                    if (!$this->_skipExtends) {
                        $config = $this->_processSection($iniArray, $value, $config);
                    }
                } else {
                    /**
                     * @see Zend_Config_Exception
                     */

                    throw new Zend_Config_Exception("Parent section '$section' cannot be found");
                }
            } else {
                $config = $this->_processKey($config, $key, $value);
            }
        }
        return $config;
    }
protected function _processSection($iniArray, $section, $config = array())
    {
        $thisSection = $iniArray[$section];

        foreach ($thisSection as $key => $value) {
            if (strtolower($key) == ';extends') {
                if (isset($iniArray[$value])) {
                    $this->_assertValidExtend($section, $value);

                    if (!$this->_skipExtends) {
                        $config = $this->_processSection($iniArray, $value, $config);
                    }
                } else {
                    /**
                     * @see Zend_Config_Exception
                     */

                    throw new Zend_Config_Exception("Parent section '$section' cannot be found");
                }
            } else {
                $config = $this->_processKey($config, $key, $value);
            }
        }
        return $config;
    }
Process each element in the section and handle the ";extends" inheritance
key. Passes control to _processKey() to handle the nest separator
sub-property syntax that may be used within the key name.

@param  array  $iniArray
@param  string $section
@param  array  $config
@throws Zend_Config_Exception
@return array