What is a helper in CodeIgniter? How can a helper file be loaded?

Helpers are the group of functions that are used to assist the user to perform specific tasks.

URL Helpers: used to create the links.

Text Helpers: used for text formatting.

Cookies Helpers: used for reading and setting cookies.

In CodeIgniter, a helper is a collection of utility functions that can be used across the application. These functions are commonly used for tasks such as formatting data, working with arrays, handling URLs, and more. Helpers provide a convenient way to encapsulate reusable functionality and avoid code duplication.

To load a helper file in CodeIgniter, you can use the helper() function. This function takes the name of the helper file (without the .php extension) as an argument and loads it dynamically. Helpers are typically loaded within a controller method or autoloaded in the application configuration.

Here’s an example of loading a helper file called url_helper:

Once loaded, you can then use the functions defined in the helper throughout your application. For example, if you loaded the url_helper, you could use functions like base_url(), site_url(), etc., to work with URLs within your views or controllers.

In an interview setting, a correct answer would involve explaining the purpose of helpers in CodeIgniter and demonstrating an understanding of how to load them using the helper() function. Additionally, it’s beneficial to provide examples of when and why you might use helpers in a CodeIgniter application.