Making A Basic PHP Template System
One of the most commonly asked questions related to PHP template programming is "How to make a basic template system in PHP?" So this tutorial explains how to make a basic template system in PHP with example codes.
Building Basic PHP Template System With PHP
It requires a total of 3 pages to create a very basic PHP template system. The files you will be creating are as follows:
- index.php
- template.html
- content.php
The PHP script content.php will be where all of your content is stored, template.html is your HTML template and index.php is the PHP script that puts them all together, and runs your site.
Now, there are many types of template systems. However, they all have the same concept, and pretty much work the same. The difference is, some template systems use a large number of pages, for each content portion of your site. Since that system still leaves you to create a new page for each portion of your content, it’s probably not as efficient. So let’s get started!
Building Your Template File
The first file that should be created is your template file: template.html
So let’s open your favorite text editor. In any case, open your favorite text editor, and create a new blank document. Place the following code in your new document:
Source Code - template.html
The above is just a basic template. Your template can look however you want it to, as long as it contains the tag where you want the content to appear in your pages. Save the above page as template.html
Creating index.php Script
Now, of course, we need to create the functioning portion of your site. So with the same trusty text editor, create a new document and place the following code in it:
Source Code - index.php
function template($content)
{
global $maincontent;
$filename = “template.htm”;
if(!$fd = fopen($filename, “r”))
{
$error = 1;
}
else
{
$template = fread ($fd, filesize ($filename));
fclose ($fd);
$template = stripslashes($template);
$template = eregi_replace(“”, “$maincontent”, $template);
$template = eregi_replace(“”, “$content”, $template);
echo “$template”;
}
}
function cmd()
{
global $maincontent;
include (“content.php”);
template(“$data”);
}
switch($action)
{
default: // default switch
home();
break;
}
?>
Save the above document as index.php, and let’s move on.
Create content.php File
Now this file will contain all of your content, and will serve the content, along with your template file, into your index.php file, conditionally based on the variables passed in the URL. Create a new document, and add the following code. Hopefully you will see the pattern in this document, that will allow you to keep adding content to it, and break it up into content sections:
Source Code - content.php
if($go == "")
{
$maincontent .= ’This will be the default content upon entering the page,
if no variable is set’;
}
if($go == "prices")
{
$maincontent .= ’This would display your pricing content’;
}
if($go == "contact")
{
$maincontent .= ’This would display your contact form and information’;
}
?>
Save the above document as content.php, upload all three files to your server, and test it by going to index.php. You should first see your welcome message. Now, if you change the url to index.php?go=prices This will then display your pricing information and so on.
Note: While you can include html within your maincontent tag, in the document above, you must prefix all quotes “ with a backslash ” This will ensure that all html displays properly.
That’s all there is to create a very basic template system in PHP.
Written by: Mark Klink