CodeIgniter: Create new helper?

Question

I need to loop lot of arrays in different ways and display it in a page. The arrays are generated by a module class. I know that its better not to include functions on 'views' and I want to know where to insert the functions file.

I know I can 'extend' the helpers, but I don't want to extend a helper. I want to kind of create a helper with my loop functions.. Lets call it loops_helper.php

Answer 1

A CodeIgniter helper is a PHP file with multiple functions. It is not a class

Create a file and put the following code into it.

<?php if ( ! defined('BASEPATH')) exit('No direct script access allowed');

if ( ! function_exists('test_method'))
{
    function test_method($var = '')
    {
        return $var;
    }   
}

Save this to application/helpers/ . We shall call it "new_helper.php"

The first line exists to make sure the file cannot be included and ran from outside the CodeIgniter scope. Everything after this is self explanatory.

Using the Helper

---

This can be in your controller, model or view (not preferable)

$this->load->helper('new_helper');

echo test_method('Hello World');

If you use this helper in a lot of locations you can have it load automatically by adding it to the autoload configuration file i.e. <your-web-app>\application\config\autoload.php.

$autoload['helper'] = array('new_helper');

-Mathew