Explain views in CodeIgniter

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View folder contains all the markup files like header, footer, sidebar, etc. They can be reused by embedding them anywhere in controller file. They can’t call directly, and they have to be loaded in the controller’s file.

In CodeIgniter, views are an essential component of the MVC (Model-View-Controller) architectural pattern. Views are responsible for presenting data to the user in a structured format. Here’s a detailed explanation:

  1. Presentation Logic Separation: Views in CodeIgniter help in separating the presentation logic from the business logic. This means that the PHP logic (controllers) and the data (models) are kept separate from the HTML markup and presentation logic (views), making the codebase more organized and maintainable.
  2. Template System: CodeIgniter views can be seen as templates for generating HTML output. They typically contain HTML markup mixed with PHP code (if needed) to dynamically generate content. This allows developers to create reusable components and maintain a consistent layout across different pages of the application.
  3. Data Rendering: Views are used to render data fetched from the controllers or models. In CodeIgniter, controllers load views and pass data to them, which can then be accessed within the view to dynamically generate content based on the data received.
  4. View Loading: CodeIgniter provides a straightforward way to load views within controllers using the $this->load->view() method. Views are typically loaded after the necessary data has been prepared in the controller, and then passed to the view for rendering.
  5. View Inheritance: CodeIgniter supports view inheritance, allowing developers to create a hierarchy of views where child views can inherit common layout elements or functionalities from parent views. This promotes code reusability and helps in maintaining a consistent UI across different parts of the application.
  6. View Helpers: CodeIgniter provides view helpers, which are utility functions that can be used within views to perform common tasks such as form input generation, URL creation, data formatting, etc. These helpers simplify view development and promote code readability.

In summary, views in CodeIgniter play a crucial role in separating the presentation logic from the business logic, facilitating code organization, maintainability, and reusability. They are responsible for rendering data to the user interface in a structured and consistent manner.