cakephp registration and login form

Question

I'm doing registration and login form using cakephp. I'm new to cakephp framework. I have downloaded and installed cakephp on my system. And I've already connected into my database table. I've made few changes in core.php and database.php.

I'm following these tutorials to do registration and login form.

http://alvinalexander.com/php/cakephp-user-registration-form-example-recipe

http://www.grasphub.com/2013/01/simplest-registration-form-in-cakephp/

http://karven.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/create-simple-user-authentication-using-cakephp-auth-component/

I've tried everthing. But none of them does not works. I don't know where i need to create these php files. I'm new to MVC design pattern too... Here anyone give me some step by step procedure to finish this simple task.. I'm not ask any coding here.. I want some step by step procedure..

Answer 1

It may look a bit hard, but when you understand its scheme it becomes super simple:

• The model layer handles everything about data. It will silently connect to the database configuration declared in the variable "useDbConfig" in the model (if not declared, it will connect to default config). They are stored in the Models folder. "Handles everything about data" means that it fetches the data from a datasource, validates data that will be saved, formats data, etc.

  Models can attach a behavior. Think of it as an "interface" in OOP terms (not the same, but somewhat close). They provide common functionality between them (for example, TranslateBehavior makes data for that model translatable). They are stored in the Models/Behavior folder. You can call them in the array variable $actsAs, or load it on the fly. For example:

  public $actsAs = array('Translate');
  

• The controller layer handles all actions that will be done with the data. It will silently instance the model with the same name as the controller to handle the data, but you can tell a controller to instance many different models to suit your needs. They are stored in the Controllers folder. Usually functions in controllers are called actions, because when a HTTP request is handled in your server, it will be delegated to the corresponding function in your controller. Say, http://www.example.com/users/login will call your action login() inside UsersController.

  Controllers can attach a component. It's the same as a behavior, but specifically for controllers. They are stored in Controllers/Components folder. For example, PaginationComponent makes the data fetched in a controller paginable, so you can sort it, divide it by pages, etc. You can call it in the variable $components, or load it on the fly. For example:

  public $components = array('Paginate');
  

• The view layer handles all your presentation. It means that they have all the HTML + Javascript that the user will see. It's called from a controller after an action is resolved. It silently will render the view inside View/ControllerName/action.ctp, It means that, for example, when login() action has finished, it will then render the view View/Users/login.ctp. Views usually use the layout default to render, but you can change it in the variable $layout inside the controller. You can pass variables from controllers to view through the function $set() in the controller.

  Views can use helpers; they are the same as components and behaviors, but for the views. But you have to declare them in the controller in the variable $helpers. They are stored in the Views/Helpers folder. For example, the default HtmlHelper lets you make some tags easier, like <img>, <a>, <script> or <link> for css.

  Also views can use elements. They are kind of blocks that you can reuse in any view or layout you want. You just create an element in Views/Elements folder, and use them with $this->element('nameOfTheElement');.

In summary, you for the login you will need an User.php model, an UsersController.php controller, and a login.ctp view. In the controller you will need the AuthComponent to load, because it will handle the login. In the view you probably will need the HtmlHelper and FormHelper, but they are loaded by default. And in the login() function in the controller, you just check if Auth->login() succeeds or not, and take the proper actions.

Once you're more experienced, you can look at the convention called fat models, skinny controllers to be more organized.

Good luck!