Class JsonView

A view class that is used for JSON responses.

By setting the '_serialize' key in your controller, you can specify a view variable that should be serialized to JSON and used as the response for the request. This allows you to omit views and layouts if you just need to emit a single view variable as the JSON response.

In your controller, you could do the following:

$this->set(array('posts' => $posts, '_serialize' => 'posts'));

When the view is rendered, the $posts view variable will be serialized into JSON.

You can also define '_serialize' as an array. This will create a top level object containing all the named view variables:

$this->set(compact('posts', 'users', 'stuff'));
$this->set('_serialize', array('posts', 'users'));

The above would generate a JSON object that looks like:

{"posts": [...], "users": [...]}

If you don't use the _serialize key, you will need a view. You can use extended views to provide layout-like functionality.

You can also enable JSONP support by setting parameter _jsonp to true or a string to specify custom query string paramater name which will contain the callback function name.

Object
Extended by View
Extended by JsonView
Package: Cake\View
Copyright: Copyright (c) Cake Software Foundation, Inc. (http://cakefoundation.org)
License: MIT License
Since: CakePHP(tm) v 2.1.0
Located at Cake/View/JsonView.php

Method Detail

__constructsource public

__construct( Controller $controller null )

Constructor

Parameters

Controller $controller optional null
Controller instance.

Overrides

View::__construct()

_serializesource protected

_serialize( array $serialize )

Serialize view vars

Special parameters

_jsonOptions You can set custom options for json_encode() this way, e.g. JSON_HEX_TAG | JSON_HEX_APOS.

Parameters

array $serialize
The viewVars that need to be serialized

Returns

string
The serialized data

Throws

CakeException
CakeException

loadHelperssource public

loadHelpers( )

Skip loading helpers if this is a _serialize based view.

Overrides

View::loadHelpers()

rendersource public

render( string $view null , string $layout null )

Render a JSON view.

Special parameters

_serialize To convert a set of view variables into a JSON response. Its value can be a string for single variable name or array for multiple names. You can omit the_serialize parameter, and use a normal view + layout as well. _jsonp Enables JSONP support and wraps response in callback function provided in query string. - Setting it to true enables the default query string parameter "callback". - Setting it to a string value, uses the provided query string parameter for finding the JSONP callback name.

Parameters

string $view optional null
The view being rendered.
string $layout optional null
The layout being rendered.

Returns

string
The rendered view.

Throws

CakeException
If there is an error in the view.

Overrides

View::render()

Methods inherited from View

__getsource public

__get( string $name )

Magic accessor for helpers. Provides access to attributes that were deprecated.

Parameters

string $name
Name of the attribute to get.

Returns

mixed
mixed

__issetsource public

__isset( string $name )

Magic isset check for deprecated attributes.

Parameters

string $name
Name of the attribute to check.

Returns

boolean
bool

__setsource public

__set( string $name , mixed $value )

Magic accessor for deprecated attributes.

Parameters

string $name
Name of the attribute to set.
mixed $value
Value of the attribute to set.

Returns

mixed
mixed

_elementCachesource protected

_elementCache( string $name , string $data , array $options )

Checks if an element is cached and returns the cached data if present

Parameters

string $name
Element name
string $data
Data
array $options
Element options

Returns

string|null
string|null

_evaluatesource protected

_evaluate( string $viewFile , array $dataForView )

Sandbox method to evaluate a template / view script in.

Parameters

string $viewFile
Filename of the view
array $dataForView
Data to include in rendered view. If empty the current View::$viewVars will be used.

Returns

string
Rendered output

_getElementFileNamesource protected

_getElementFileName( string $name )

Finds an element filename, returns false on failure.

Parameters

string $name
The name of the element to find.

Returns

mixed
Either a string to the element filename or false when one can't be found.

_getExtensionssource protected

_getExtensions( )

Get the extensions that view files can use.

Returns

array
Array of extensions view files use.

_getLayoutFileNamesource protected

_getLayoutFileName( string $name null )

Returns layout filename for this template as a string.

Parameters

string $name optional null
The name of the layout to find.

Returns

string
Filename for layout file (.ctp).

Throws

MissingLayoutException
when a layout cannot be located

_getViewFileNamesource protected

_getViewFileName( string $name null )

Returns filename of given action's template file (.ctp) as a string. CamelCased action names will be under_scored! This means that you can have LongActionNames that refer to long_action_names.ctp views.

Parameters

string $name optional null
Controller action to find template filename for

Returns

string
Template filename

Throws

MissingViewException
when a view file could not be found.

_pathssource protected

_paths( string $plugin null , boolean $cached true )

Return all possible paths to find view files in order

Parameters

string $plugin optional null
Optional plugin name to scan for view files.
boolean $cached optional true
Set to false to force a refresh of view paths. Default true.

Returns

array
paths

_rendersource protected

_render( string $viewFile , array $data array() )

Renders and returns output for given view filename with its array of data. Handles parent/extended views.

Parameters

string $viewFile
Filename of the view
array $data optional array()
Data to include in rendered view. If empty the current View::$viewVars will be used.

Returns

string
Rendered output

Throws

CakeException
when a block is left open.

Triggers

View.beforeRenderFile $this, array($viewFile)
View.afterRenderFile $this, array($viewFile, $content)

_renderElementsource protected

_renderElement( string $file , array $data , array $options )

Renders an element and fires the before and afterRender callbacks for it and writes to the cache if a cache is used

Parameters

string $file
Element file path
array $data
Data to render
array $options
Element options

Returns

string
string

Triggers

View.beforeRender $this, array($file)
View.afterRender $this, array($file, $element)

addScriptsource public

addScript( string $name , string $content null )

Adds a script block or other element to be inserted in $scripts_for_layout in the <head /> of a document layout

Deprecated

3.0.0 Will be removed in 3.0. Superseded by blocks functionality.

Parameters

string $name
Either the key name for the script, or the script content. Name can be used to update/replace a script element.
string $content optional null
The content of the script being added, optional.

See

View::start()

appendsource public

append( string $name , mixed $value null )

Append to an existing or new block. Appending to a new block will create the block.

Parameters

string $name
Name of the block
mixed $value optional null
The content for the block.

See

ViewBlock::concat()

assignsource public

assign( string $name , mixed $value )

Set the content for a block. This will overwrite any existing content.

Parameters

string $name
Name of the block
mixed $value
The content for the block.

See

ViewBlock::set()

blockssource public

blocks( )

Get the names of all the existing blocks.

Returns

array
An array containing the blocks.

See

ViewBlock::keys()

elementsource public

element( string $name , array $data array() , array $options array() )

Renders a piece of PHP with provided parameters and returns HTML, XML, or any other string.

This realizes the concept of Elements, (or "partial layouts") and the $params array is used to send data to be used in the element. Elements can be cached improving performance by using the cache option.

Parameters

string $name
Name of template file in the/app/View/Elements/ folder, or MyPlugin.template to use the template element from MyPlugin. If the element is not found in the plugin, the normal view path cascade will be searched.
array $data optional array()
Array of data to be made available to the rendered view (i.e. the Element)
array $options optional array()
Array of options. Possible keys are: - cache - Can either be true, to enable caching using the config in View::$elementCache. Or an array If an array, the following keys can be used: - config - Used to store the cached element in a custom cache configuration. - key - Used to define the key used in the Cache::write(). It will be prefixed with element_ - plugin - (deprecated!) Load an element from a specific plugin. This option is deprecated, and will be removed in CakePHP 3.0. Use Plugin.element_name instead. - callbacks - Set to true to fire beforeRender and afterRender helper callbacks for this element. Defaults to false. - ignoreMissing - Used to allow missing elements. Set to true to not trigger notices.

Returns

string
Rendered Element

elementExistssource public

elementExists( string $name )

Checks if an element exists

Parameters

string $name
Name of template file in the /app/View/Elements/ folder, or MyPlugin.template to check the template element from MyPlugin. If the element is not found in the plugin, the normal view path cascade will be searched.

Returns

boolean
Success

endsource public

end( )

End a capturing block. The compliment to View::start()

See

ViewBlock::end()

existssource public

exists( string $name )

Check if a block exists

Parameters

string $name
Name of the block

Returns

boolean
bool

extendsource public

extend( string $name )

Provides view or element extension/inheritance. Views can extends a parent view and populate blocks in the parent template.

Parameters

string $name
The view or element to 'extend' the current one with.

Throws

LogicException
when you extend a view with itself or make extend loops.
LogicException
when you extend an element which doesn't exist

fetchsource public

fetch( string $name , string $default '' )

Fetch the content for a block. If a block is empty or undefined '' will be returned.

Parameters

string $name
Name of the block
string $default optional ''
Default text

Returns

string
default The block content or $default if the block does not exist.

See

ViewBlock::get()

getsource public

get( string $var , mixed $default null )

Returns the contents of the given View variable.

Parameters

string $var
The view var you want the contents of.
mixed $default optional null
The default/fallback content of $var.

Returns

mixed
The content of the named var if its set, otherwise $default.

getCurrentTypesource public

getCurrentType( )

Retrieve the current view type

Returns

string
string

getEventManagersource public

getEventManager( )

Returns the CakeEventManager manager instance that is handling any callbacks. You can use this instance to register any new listeners or callbacks to the controller events, or create your own events and trigger them at will.

Returns

CakeEventManager
CakeEventManager

getVarsource public

getVar( string $var )

Returns the contents of the given View variable(s)

Deprecated

3.0.0 Will be removed in 3.0. Use View::get() instead.

Parameters

string $var
The view var you want the contents of.

Returns

mixed
The content of the named var if its set, otherwise null.

getVarssource public

getVars( )

Returns a list of variables available in the current View context

Returns

array
Array of the set view variable names.

loadHelpersource public

loadHelper( string $helperName , array $settings array() )

Loads a helper. Delegates to the HelperCollection::load() to load the helper

Parameters

string $helperName
Name of the helper to load.
array $settings optional array()
Settings for the helper

Returns

Helper
a constructed helper object.

See

HelperCollection::load()

pluginSplitsource public

pluginSplit( string $name , boolean $fallback true )

Splits a dot syntax plugin name into its plugin and filename. If $name does not have a dot, then index 0 will be null. It checks if the plugin is loaded, else filename will stay unchanged for filenames containing dot

Parameters

string $name
The name you want to plugin split.
boolean $fallback optional true
If true uses the plugin set in the current CakeRequest when parsed plugin is not loaded

Returns

array
Array with 2 indexes. 0 => plugin name, 1 => filename

prependsource public

prepend( string $name , mixed $value null )

Prepend to an existing or new block. Prepending to a new block will create the block.

Parameters

string $name
Name of the block
mixed $value optional null
The content for the block.

See

ViewBlock::concat()

renderCachesource public

renderCache( string $filename , string $timeStart )

Render cached view. Works in concert with CacheHelper and Dispatcher to render cached view files.

Parameters

string $filename
the cache file to include
string $timeStart
the page render start time

Returns

boolean
Success of rendering the cached file.

renderLayoutsource public

renderLayout( string $content , string $layout null )

Renders a layout. Returns output from _render(). Returns false on error. Several variables are created for use in layout.

  • title_for_layout - A backwards compatible place holder, you should set this value if you want more control.
  • content_for_layout - contains rendered view file
  • scripts_for_layout - Contains content added with addScript() as well as any content in the 'meta', 'css', and 'script' blocks. They are appended in that order.

Deprecated features:

  • $scripts_for_layout is deprecated and will be removed in CakePHP 3.0. Use the block features instead. meta, css and script will be populated by the matching methods on HtmlHelper.
  • $title_for_layout is deprecated and will be removed in CakePHP 3.0. Use the title block instead.
  • $content_for_layout is deprecated and will be removed in CakePHP 3.0. Use the content block instead.

Parameters

string $content
Content to render in a view, wrapped by the surrounding layout.
string $layout optional null
Layout name

Returns

mixed
Rendered output, or false on error

Throws

CakeException
if there is an error in the view.

Triggers

View.beforeLayout $this, array($layoutFileName)
View.afterLayout $this, array($layoutFileName)

setsource public

set( string|array $one , string|array $two null )

Allows a template or element to set a variable that will be available in a layout or other element. Analogous to Controller::set().

Parameters

string|array $one
A string or an array of data.
string|array $two optional null
Value in case $one is a string (which then works as the key). Unused if $one is an associative array, otherwise serves as the values to $one's keys.

startsource public

start( string $name )

Start capturing output for a 'block'

Parameters

string $name
The name of the block to capture for.

See

ViewBlock::start()

startIfEmptysource public

startIfEmpty( string $name )

Start capturing output for a 'block' if it has no content

Parameters

string $name
The name of the block to capture for.

See

ViewBlock::startIfEmpty()

uuidsource public

uuid( string $object , string $url )

Generates a unique, non-random DOM ID for an object, based on the object type and the target URL.

Parameters

string $object
Type of object, i.e. 'form' or 'link'
string $url
The object's target URL

Returns

string
string

Methods inherited from Object

_mergeVarssource protected

_mergeVars( array $properties , string $class , boolean $normalize true )

Merges this objects $property with the property in $class' definition. This classes value for the property will be merged on top of $class'

This provides some of the DRY magic CakePHP provides. If you want to shut it off, redefine this method as an empty function.

Parameters

array $properties
The name of the properties to merge.
string $class
The class to merge the property with.
boolean $normalize optional true
Set to true to run the properties through Hash::normalize() before merging.

_setsource protected

_set( array $properties array() )

Allows setting of multiple properties of the object in a single line of code. Will only set properties that are part of a class declaration.

Parameters

array $properties optional array()
An associative array containing properties and corresponding values.

_stopsource protected

_stop( integer|string $status 0 )

Stop execution of the current script. Wraps exit() making testing easier.

Parameters

integer|string $status optional 0
see http://php.net/exit for values

dispatchMethodsource public

dispatchMethod( string $method , array $params array() )

Calls a method on this object with the given parameters. Provides an OO wrapper for call_user_func_array

Parameters

string $method
Name of the method to call
array $params optional array()
Parameter list to use when calling $method

Returns

mixed
Returns the result of the method call

logsource public

log( string $msg , integer $type LOG_ERR , null|string|array $scope null )

Convenience method to write a message to CakeLog. See CakeLog::write() for more information on writing to logs.

Parameters

string $msg
Log message
integer $type optional LOG_ERR
Error type constant. Defined in app/Config/core.php.
null|string|array $scope optional null
The scope(s) a log message is being created in. See CakeLog::config() for more information on logging scopes.

Returns

boolean
Success of log write

requestActionsource public

requestAction( string|array $url , array $extra array() )

Calls a controller's method from any location. Can be used to connect controllers together or tie plugins into a main application. requestAction can be used to return rendered views or fetch the return value from controller actions.

Under the hood this method uses Router::reverse() to convert the $url parameter into a string URL. You should use URL formats that are compatible with Router::reverse()

Passing POST and GET data

POST and GET data can be simulated in requestAction. Use $extra['url'] for GET data. The $extra['data'] parameter allows POST data simulation.

Parameters

string|array $url
String or array-based URL. Unlike other URL arrays in CakePHP, this URL will not automatically handle passed and named arguments in the $url parameter.
array $extra optional array()
if array includes the key "return" it sets the AutoRender to true. Can also be used to submit GET/POST data, and named/passed arguments.

Returns

mixed
Boolean true or false on success/failure, or contents of rendered action if 'return' is set in $extra.

toStringsource public

toString( )

Object-to-string conversion. Each class can override this method as necessary.

Returns

string
The name of this class

Constants inherited from View

TYPE_ELEMENT, TYPE_LAYOUT, TYPE_VIEW

Properties summary

$subDirsource

public string

JSON views are always located in the 'json' sub directory for controllers' views.

'json'

Properties inherited from View

$Blockssource

public ViewBlock

ViewBlock instance.

$Helperssource

public HelperCollection

Helpers collection

$_currentsource

protected string

The currently rendering view file. Used for resolving parent files.

null

$_currentTypesource

protected string

Currently rendering an element. Used for finding parent fragments for elements.

''

$_eventManagersource

protected CakeEventManager

Instance of the CakeEventManager this View object is using to dispatch inner events. Usually the manager is shared with the controller, so it it possible to register view events in the controller layer.

null

$_eventManagerConfiguredsource

protected boolean

Whether the event manager was already configured for this object

false

$_parentssource

protected array

The names of views and their parents used with View::extend();

array()

$_passedVarssource

protected array

List of variables to collect from the associated controller.

array(
    'viewVars', 'autoLayout', 'ext', 'helpers', 'view', 'layout', 'name', 'theme',
    'layoutPath', 'viewPath', 'request', 'plugin', 'passedArgs', 'cacheAction'
)

$_pathssource

protected array

Holds an array of paths.

array()

$_pathsForPluginsource

protected array

Holds an array of plugin paths.

array()

$_scriptssource

protected array

Scripts (and/or other <head /> tags) for the layout.

array()

$_stacksource

protected array

Content stack, used for nested templates that all use View::extend();

array()

$autoLayoutsource

public boolean

Turns on or off CakePHP's conventional mode of applying layout files. On by default. Setting to off means that layouts will not be automatically applied to rendered views.

true

$cacheActionsource

public mixed

Used to define methods a controller that will be cached.

See

Controller::$cacheAction
false

$elementCachesource

public string

The Cache configuration View will use to store cached elements. Changing this will change the default configuration elements are stored under. You can also choose a cache config per element.

See

View::element()
'default'

$elementCacheSettingssource

public array

Element cache settings

See

View::_elementCache();
View::_renderElement()
array()

$extsource

public string

File extension. Defaults to CakePHP's template ".ctp".

'.ctp'

$hasRenderedsource

public boolean

True when the view has been rendered.

false

$helperssource

public mixed

An array of names of built-in helpers to include.

array()

$layoutsource

public string

Name of layout to use with this View.

'default'

$layoutPathsource

public string

Path to Layout.

null

$namesource

public string

Name of the controller.

null

$passedArgssource

public mixed

Current passed params

array()

$pluginsource

public string

Name of the plugin.

Link

http://manual.cakephp.org/chapter/plugins
null

$requestsource

public CakeRequest

An instance of a CakeRequest object that contains information about the current request. This object contains all the information about a request and several methods for reading additional information about the request.

$responsesource

public CakeResponse

Reference to the Response object

$themesource

public string

Theme name.

null

$uuidssource

public array

List of generated DOM UUIDs.

array()

$validationErrorssource

public array

Holds current errors for the model validation.

array()

$viewsource

public string

Name of view to use with this View.

null

$viewPathsource

public string

Path to View.

null

$viewVarssource

public array

Variables for the view

array()

Magic properties inherited from View

$Blockssource

public ViewBlock

$Cachesource

public CacheHelper

$Formsource

public FormHelper

$Htmlsource

public HtmlHelper

$Jssource

public JsHelper

$Numbersource

public NumberHelper

$Paginatorsource

public PaginatorHelper

$Rsssource

public RssHelper

$Sessionsource

public SessionHelper

$Textsource

public TextHelper

$Timesource

public TimeHelper

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http://api.cakephp.org/2.7/class-JsonView.html