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Global Functions and Constants

CodeIgniter provides a few functions and variables that are globally defined, and are available to you at any point. These do not require loading any additional libraries or helpers.

Global Functions

Service Accessors

cache([$key])

  • Parameters

    • $key string The cache name of the item to retrieve from cache (Optional)

  • Returns: Either the cache object, or the item retrieved from the cache

  • Return type: mixed

If no $key is provided, will return the Cache engine instance. If a $key is provided, will return the value of $key as stored in the cache currently, or null if no value is found.

Examples:

<?php

$foo   = cache('foo');
$cache = cache();

config(string $name[, bool $getShared = true])

  • Parameters

    • $name string The config classname.
    • $getShared bool Whether to return a shared instance.

  • Returns: The config instance.

  • Return type: object|null

A simpler way of getting config instances from Factories.

See Configuration and Factories for details.

config() uses Factories::config() internally. See Loading Classes for details on the first parameter $name.

cookie(string $name[, string $value = ''[, array $options = []]])

  • Parameters

    • $name string Cookie name
    • $value string Cookie value
    • $options array Cookie options

  • Return type: Cookie

  • Returns: Cookie instance

  • Throws: CookieException

Simpler way to create a new Cookie instance.

cookies([array $cookies = [][, bool $getGlobal = true]])

  • Parameters

    • $cookies array If getGlobal is false, this is passed to CookieStore's constructor.
    • $getGlobal bool If false, creates a new instance of CookieStore.

  • Return type: CookieStore

  • Returns: Instance of CookieStore saved in the current Response, or a new CookieStore instance.

Fetches the global CookieStore instance held by Response.

env($key[, $default = null])

  • Parameters

    • $key string The name of the environment variable to retrieve
    • $default mixed The default value to return if no value is found.

  • Returns: The environment variable, the default value, or null.

  • Return type: mixed

Used to retrieve values that have previously been set to the environment, or return a default value if it is not found. Will format boolean values to actual booleans instead of string representations.

Especially useful when used in conjunction with .env files for setting values that are specific to the environment itself, like database settings, API keys, etc.

esc($data[, $context = 'html'[, $encoding]])

  • Parameters

    • $data string|array The information to be escaped.
    • $context string The escaping context. Default is 'html'.
    • $encoding string The character encoding of the string.

  • Returns: The escaped data.

  • Return type: mixed

Escapes data for inclusion in web pages, to help prevent XSS attacks. This uses the Laminas Escaper library to handle the actual filtering of the data.

If $data is a string, then it simply escapes and returns it. If $data is an array, then it loops over it, escaping each 'value' of the key/value pairs.

Valid context values: html, js, css, url, attr, raw

helper($filename)

  • Parameters
    • $filename string|array The name of the helper file to load, or an array of names.

Loads a helper file.

For full details, see the Helper Functions page.

lang($line[, $args[, $locale]])

  • Parameters

    • $line string The language filename and the key of the text to retrieve.
    • $args array An array of data to substitute for placeholders.
    • $locale string Specify a different locale to be used instead of the current locale.

  • Returns: The text in the language file

  • Return type: list<string>|string

Retrieves text from the language files.

For more information, see Language Localization.

model($name[, $getShared = true[, &$conn = null]])

  • Parameters

    • $name string The model classname.
    • $getShared boolean Whether to return a shared instance.
    • $conn ConnectionInterface|null The database connection.

  • Returns: The model instance

  • Return type: object

A simpler way of getting model instances.

model() uses Factories::models() internally. See Loading Classes for details on the first parameter $name.

See also Using CodeIgniter's Model.

old($key[, $default = null[, $escape = 'html']])

  • Parameters

    • $key string The name of the old form data to check for.
    • $default string|null The default value to return if $key doesn't exist.
    • $escape false|string An esc() context or false to disable it.

  • Returns: The value of the defined key, or the default value.

  • Return type: array|string|null

Provides a simple way to access "old input data" from submitting a form.

Example:

<?php

// in controller, checking form submittal
if (! $model->save($user)) {
    // 'withInput()' is what specifies "old data" should be saved.
    return redirect()->back()->withInput();
}

?>

<!-- In your view file: -->
<input type="email" name="email" value="<?= old('email') ?>">

<!-- Or with arrays: -->
<input type="email" name="user[email]" value="<?= old('user.email') ?>">

Note

If you are using the set_value(), set_select(), set_checkbox(), and set_radio() functions in the form helper, this feature is built-in. You only need to use this function when not using the form helper.

session([$key])

  • Parameters

    • $key string The name of the session item to check for.

  • Returns: An instance of the Session object if no $key, the value found in the session for $key, or null.

  • Return type: mixed

Provides a convenient way to access the session class and to retrieve a stored value. For more information, see the Sessions page.

timer([$name])

  • Parameters

    • $name string The name of the benchmark point.

  • Returns: The Timer instance

  • Return type: CodeIgniter\Debug\Timer

A convenience method that provides quick access to the Timer class. You can pass in the name of a benchmark point as the only parameter. This will start timing from this point, or stop timing if a timer with this name is already running.

Example:

<?php

// Get an instance
$timer = timer();

// Set timer start and stop points
timer('controller_loading');    // Will start the timer
// ...
timer('controller_loading');    // Will stop the running timer

view($name[, $data[, $options]])

  • Parameters

    • $name string The name of the file to load
    • $data array An array of key/value pairs to make available within the view.
    • $options array An array of options that will be passed to the rendering class.

  • Returns: The output from the view.

  • Return type: string

Grabs the current RendererInterface-compatible class (View class by default) and tells it to render the specified view. Simply provides a convenience method that can be used in Controllers, libraries, and routed closures.

Currently, these options are available for use within the $options array:

  • saveData specifies that data will persist between multiple calls to view() within the same request. If you do not want the data to be persisted, specify false.
  • cache specifies the number of seconds to cache the view for. See Caching Views for details.
  • debug can be set to false to disable the addition of debug code for Debug Toolbar.

The $options array is provided primarily to facilitate third-party integrations with libraries like Twig.

Example:

<?php

$data = ['user' => $user];

echo view('user_profile', $data);

For more details, see the Views and View Renderer pages.

view_cell($library[, $params = null[, $ttl = 0[, $cacheName = null]]])

  • Parameters

    • $library string
    • $params null
    • $ttl integer
    • $cacheName string|null

  • Returns: The rendered HTML for the view cell.

  • Return type: string

For more details, see the View Cells page.

Miscellaneous Functions

app_timezone()

  • Returns: The timezone the application has been set to display dates in.
  • Return type: string

Returns the timezone the application has been set to display dates in.

csp_script_nonce()

  • Returns: The CSP nonce attribute for a script tag.
  • Return type: string

Returns the nonce attribute for a script tag. For example: nonce="Eskdikejidojdk978Ad8jf". See Content Security Policy.

csp_style_nonce()

  • Returns: The CSP nonce attribute for a style tag.
  • Return type: string

Returns the nonce attribute for a style tag. For example: nonce="Eskdikejidojdk978Ad8jf". See Content Security Policy.

csrf_token()

  • Returns: The name of the current CSRF token.
  • Return type: string

Returns the name of the current CSRF token.

csrf_header()

  • Returns: The name of the header for the current CSRF token.
  • Return type: string

Returns the name of the header for the current CSRF token.

csrf_hash()

  • Returns: The current value of the CSRF hash.
  • Return type: string

Returns the current CSRF hash value.

csrf_field()

  • Returns: A string with the HTML for a hidden input with all required CSRF information.
  • Return type: string

Returns a hidden input with the CSRF information already inserted:

<input type="hidden" name="{csrf_token}" value="{csrf_hash}">

csrf_meta()

  • Returns: A string with the HTML for a meta tag with all required CSRF information.
  • Return type: string

Returns a meta tag with the CSRF information already inserted:

<meta name="{csrf_header}" content="{csrf_hash}">

force_https($duration = 31536000[, $request = null[, $response = null]])

  • Parameters
    • $duration int The number of seconds browsers should convert links to this resource to HTTPS.
    • $request RequestInterface An instance of the current Request object.
    • $response ResponseInterface An instance of the current Response object.

Checks to see if the page is currently being accessed via HTTPS. If it is, then nothing happens. If it is not, then the user is redirected back to the current URI but through HTTPS. Will set the HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) header, which instructs modern browsers to automatically modify any HTTP requests to HTTPS requests for the $duration.

Note

This function is also used when you set Config\App::$forceGlobalSecureRequests to true.

function_usable($functionName)

  • Parameters

    • $functionName string Function to check for

  • Returns: true if the function exists and is safe to call, false otherwise.

  • Return type: bool

is_cli()

  • Returns: true if the script is being executed from the command line or false otherwise.
  • Return type: bool

is_really_writable($file)

  • Parameters

    • $file string The filename being checked.

  • Returns: true if you can write to the file, false otherwise.

  • Return type: bool

is_windows([$mock = null])

  • Parameters

    • $mock bool|null If given and a boolean, it will be used as the return value.

  • Return type: bool

Detects if the platform is running on Windows.

Note

The boolean value provided to $mock will persist in subsequent calls. To reset this mock value, the user must pass an explicit null to the function call. This will refresh the function to use auto-detection.

<?php

is_windows(true);

// some code ...

if (is_windows()) {
    // do something ..
}

is_windows(null); // reset

log_message($level, $message [, $context])

  • Parameters

    • $level string The level of severity
    • $message string The message that is to be logged.
    • $context array An associative array of tags and their values that should be replaced in $message

  • Returns: void

  • Return type: void

Note

Since v4.5.0, the return value is fixed to be compatible with PSR Log. In previous versions, it returned true if it was logged successfully or false if there was a problem logging it.

Logs a message using the Log Handlers defined in app/Config/Logger.php.

Level can be one of the following values: emergency, alert, critical, error, warning, notice, info, or debug.

Context can be used to substitute values in the message string. For full details, see the Logging Information page.

redirect(string $route)

  • Parameters

    • $route string The route name or Controller::method to redirect the user to.

  • Return type: RedirectResponse

Returns a RedirectResponse instance allowing you to easily create redirects. See Redirect for details.

remove_invisible_characters($str[, $urlEncoded = true])

  • Parameters

    • $str string Input string
    • $urlEncoded bool Whether to remove URL-encoded characters as well

  • Returns: Sanitized string

  • Return type: string

This function prevents inserting null characters between ASCII characters, like Java\0script.

Example:

<?php

remove_invisible_characters('Java\\0script');
// Returns: 'Javascript'

request()

Available from version 4.3.0

  • Returns: The shared Request object.
  • Return type: IncomingRequest|CLIRequest

This function is a wrapper for Services::request() and service('request').

response()

Available from version 4.3.0

  • Returns: The shared Response object.
  • Return type: Response

This function is a wrapper for Services::response() and service('response').

route_to($method[, ...$params])

  • Parameters

    • $method string Route name or Controller::method
    • int|string ...$params One or more parameters to be passed to the route. The last parameter allows you to set the locale.

  • Returns: A route path (URI path relative to baseURL)

  • Return type: string

Note

This function requires the controller/method to have a route defined in app/Config/Routes.php.

Important

route_to() returns a route path, not a full URI path for your site. If your baseURL contains sub folders, the return value is not the same as the URI to link. In that case, just use url_to() instead. See also URL Structure.

Generates a route for you based on a controller::method combination. Takes parameters into account, if provided.

<?php

// The route is defined as:
$routes->get('users/(:num)/gallery/(:num)', 'Galleries::showUserGallery/$1/$2');

?>

<?php

// Generate the route with user ID 15, gallery 12:
route_to('Galleries::showUserGallery', 15, 12);
// Result: '/users/15/gallery/12'

Generates a route for you based on a route name.

<?php

// The route is defined as:
$routes->get('users/(:num)/gallery/(:num)', 'Galleries::showUserGallery/$1/$2', ['as' => 'user_gallery']);

?>

<?php

// Generate the route with user ID 15, gallery 12:
route_to('user_gallery', 15, 12);
// Result: '/users/15/gallery/12'

Since v4.3.0, when you use {locale} in your route, you can optionally specify the locale value as the last parameter.

<?php

// The route is defined as:
$routes->add(
    '{locale}/users/(:num)/gallery/(:num)',
    'Galleries::showUserGallery/$1/$2',
    ['as' => 'user_gallery'],
);

?>

<?php

// Generate the route with user ID 15, gallery 12 and locale en:
route_to('user_gallery', 15, 12, 'en');
// Result: '/en/users/15/gallery/12'

service($name[, ...$params])

  • Parameters

    • $name string The name of the service to load
    • $params mixed One or more parameters to pass to the service method.

  • Returns: An instance of the service class specified.

  • Return type: mixed

Provides easy access to any of the Services defined in the system. Without additional parameters, this returns a shared instance. When parameters are passed, it calls the service method directly, so the method's $getShared argument and default determine whether the instance is shared.

Example:

<?php

$logger   = service('logger');
$renderer = service('renderer', APPPATH . 'views/');

single_service($name [, ...$params])

  • Parameters

    • $name string The name of the service to load
    • $params mixed One or more parameters to pass to the service method.

  • Returns: An instance of the service class specified.

  • Return type: mixed

Similar to the service() function described above, but explicitly requests a new instance by passing false as the service method's $getShared argument.

slash_item ( $item )

  • Parameters

    • $item string Config item name

  • Returns: The configuration item or null if the item doesn't exist

  • Return type: string|null

Fetches a config file item with a slash appended (if not empty).

stringify_attributes($attributes [, $js])

  • Parameters

    • $attributes mixed string, array of key value pairs, or object
    • $js boolean true if values do not need quotes (JavaScript-style)

  • Returns: String containing the attribute key/value pairs, comma-separated

  • Return type: string

Helper function used to convert a string, array, or object of attributes to a string.

Global Constants

The following constants are always available anywhere within your application.

Core Constants

APPPATH

The path to the app directory.

ROOTPATH

The path to the project root directory. Just above APPPATH.

SYSTEMPATH

The path to the system directory.

FCPATH

The path to the directory that holds the front controller.

WRITEPATH

The path to the writable directory.

Time Constants

SECOND

Equals 1.

MINUTE

Equals 60.

HOUR

Equals 3600.

DAY

Equals 86400.

WEEK

Equals 604800.

MONTH

Equals 2592000.

YEAR

Equals 31536000.

DECADE

Equals 315360000.