Using Codeigniter for PHP application development

With many software frameworks available online nowadays, with many pros and cons on their side, it has become very important to check out complete details of these frameworks before applying them. Amongst the various kinds of software frameworks, the PHP Framework is more popular nowadays. Being simple to work on and easy to use, PHP frameworks are soon becoming the catchword of software frameworks

There are many advantages of using PHP frameworks:
  • Applications can be built quickly and easily.
  • Simple to debug.
  • Secured.
  • Easy to install and use.
  • Good for applications utilizing multiple platforms.
CodeIgniter (CI)

One of the effective PHP Frameworks is the CodeIgniter. Web applications with advanced features can be readied using the CodeIgniter. Simpler for the beginners, CI follows an MVC (Model View Controller) pattern, thereby enabling in easy learning. Also, due to the usage of conventional PHP coding, the existing codes can be ported using this PHP framework. Also the simplicity with which it works and the speed that it has when compared to the other frameworks, is definitely considerable.

Striking features of CodeIgniter
There are many features that are quite distinguishing, in CI. Few of the most important features are explained below:
  • User Guide
    One of the most important features of the CodeIgniter is that it has a very impressive user guide. The way the documentation has been done is simply marvelous and highly useful for coders to know more about the working.
  • Simplicity
    CodeIgniter is simple and a major portion of the work gets completed in the controllers and uploading the libraries. Since the workings are clear and open, it is very easy to understand what is happening and therefore, simple to use.
  • Model Handling
    While working with models, CodeIgniter uses a straight way of handling. Standard SQL queries can be mimed using few simple commands. Also creation of model objects, loading it and introducing methods to deal with a customized task is also possible.
  • Data Validation
    Data validation is a major thing while working on models. Here a validation class is used to validate data. First, few rules are defined and assigned to the object to be validated. The data that is sent through the URL is automatically validated by the validation object. Even certain error messages can also be automated the same way, using data validation class.
There are many other advantages of using CI:
  • Migration from one server to another is easier and hassle-free. Also installation is easier as well.
  • CI is very easy to handle and also to customize. In case a new functionality has to be applied, it can be done without affecting the customization.
  • With MVC based framework, it offers flexibility and easy management.
  • Active Record Implementation is simply superb and easy to remember.
  • Configuration and customization of these configuration files are also easy, thus facilitating easy working with various types of developers.
  • The collection of libraries that it posses is also good enough.
  • And as previously said, awesome documentation of the user guide, which makes any coder easy to use the whole framework.

Given below is a simple example to display user information from database. Using CodeIgniter, the programmer and designer can simultaneously work on the same project, without having to wait for each other to complete their parts. Here the first part “Create a controller named user.php and store it in Controllers folder” is prepared by the programmer, and the second part “Create a view named user.php and store it in views folder” is prepared by the designers simultaneously.

 # Create a controller named user.php and store it in Controllers folder

<?
class User extends Controller {
function User()
{
parent::Controller();
}
function view() {
$this->load->database(); # This line is not needed if database library is put into autoload
$query = $this->db->query("SELECT username, email FROM tbl_users");
if($query->num_rows() >0) {
foreach($query->result_array() as $row) {
$users[] = $row;
}
$data['users'] = $users;
}
$this->load->view('user', $data);
}
}
?>


# Create a view named user.php and store it in views folder

<table border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5">
<tr>
<td><b>User Name</b></td> <td><b>Email</b></td>
</tr>
<?
if(is_array($users)) {
foreach($users as $key => $value) {
?>
<tr>
<td><? echo $value['username']?></td>
<td><? echo $value['email']?></td>
</tr>
<?
}
else {
?>
<tr><td colspan="2">No users found</td></tr>
<?
}
}
?>


The output comes as below:

User Name Email Id
Daniel daniel@gmail.com
James james@yahoo.com

So, if you are looking for a PHP Framework with exceptional performance, compatible with any standard hosting services along with various versions of PHP and with any template language, almost nil configuration hassles, does not ask you to follow rigid coding rules and crystal-clear user guide and documentation; then you are referring to the CodeIgniter PHP Framework.


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