lithium\data\source\Database::_cast PHP Method

    protected function _cast($type, $value, $column, $schema = array())
    {
        $column += array('formatter' => null, 'format' => null);
        if ($value === null) {
            return 'NULL';
        }
        if (is_object($value)) {
            return $value;
        }
        if (!($formatter = $column['formatter'])) {
            return $this->connection->quote($value);
        }
        if (!($format = $column['format'])) {
            return $formatter($value);
        }
        if (($value = $formatter($format, $value)) === false) {
            $value = $formatter($format, $schema['default']);
        }
        return $value !== false ? $value : 'NULL';
    }