public function output($key = '', $query = '', $options = array())
    {
        // ensure key based retrievals are returned first/fast if empty query.
        if (empty($query) && isset($this->input[$key])) {
            return $this->input[$key];
        }

        // setup standard options.
        if (empty($options)) {
            $options = array('return' => true, 'tags' => true, 'echo' => false);
        }

        // templated output patterns
        $output = $this->templateTextElement($key, $query, $options);

        if (array_key_exists('return', $options)) {
            if ($options['return']) {
                return $output;
            }
        } else {
            return false;
        }
    }