Question: I have been having a problem lately with my CakePHP models. The capitalization of the first letter of the model name keep changing. For example

```
$brands = $this->brand->findAllByCompanyId($company);
$list = array();
foreach ($brands as &$brand) {
    $list[] = array(
        'name' => $brand['brand']['name'],
        'id'   => $brand['brand']['id']
    );
}

```

For some reason, the key names would change to

```
$brand['Brand']['name']
$brand['Brand']['id']

```

Notice the change in the capitalization in the word "Brand." Does anyone have an idea why this happens, or how to force a specific capitalization?

Answer: 
One of the [basic principles of CakePHP](http://book.cakephp.org/view/892/Basic-Principles-of-CakePHP) is about making life easier by [following conventions](http://book.cakephp.org/view/22/CakePHP-Conventions). As @Neal above says, CakePHP expects the Model to be capitalised. Stick to it being capitalised and you'll make your life easier.
CakePHP models **always** capitalizes the name of the model when it is selecting it from the database.  

(I am assuming that `$this->brand->findAllByCompanyId($company);` is doing a query)