**Course Title:** Mastering Zend Framework (Laminas): Building Robust Web Applications **Section Title:** Routing, Controllers, and Views in Laminas **Topic:** Create routes, controllers, and views for a simple application using Laminas View for dynamic content.(Lab topic) **Objective:** By the end of this topic, you will be able to create routes, controllers, and views for a simple web application using Laminas Framework, demonstrating a solid understanding of the MVC architecture and the use of Laminas View for dynamic content. **Overview:** In this lab topic, we will build a simple web application using Laminas Framework, focusing on routing, controllers, and views. We will create a basic CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) application using the Laminas Framework's built-in components. **Prerequisites:** * Completion of the previous topics: Introduction to Zend Framework (Laminas) and Development Setup, MVC Architecture, Directory Structure and Configuration Files, Defining and Managing Routes in Laminas, Creating Controllers to Handle Requests and Responses, and Building Views with Laminas View and Template Rendering. **Lab Task:** 1. Create a new project using the Laminas Framework. 2. Define routes for the CRUD operations. 3. Create controllers to handle requests and responses. 4. Build views using Laminas View for dynamic content. 5. Pass data between controllers and views. **Step 1: Define Routes** Create a new file `module/Application/config/routes.config.php` and add the following code: ```php 'laminas-mvc-routes' => [ '/' => 'Application\Controller\Index', '/users' => 'Application\Controller\User', '/users/create' => 'Application\Controller\User::create', '/users/update/:id' => 'Application\Controller\User::update', '/users/delete/:id' => 'Application\Controller\User::delete', ], ``` This defines five routes: * `/`: Maps to the `Index` controller's `index` action. * `/users`: Maps to the `User` controller's `index` action. * `/users/create`: Maps to the `User` controller's `create` action. * `/users/update/:id`: Maps to the `User` controller's `update` action, passing the `id` parameter. * `/users/delete/:id`: Maps to the `User` controller's `delete` action, passing the `id` parameter. **Step 2: Create Controllers** Create a new file `module/Application/controllers/UserController.php` and add the following code: ```php namespace Application\Controller; use Laminas\Mvc\Controller\AbstractActionController; use Laminas\View\Model ViewModel; class UserController extends AbstractActionController { public function create() { $data = []; return new ViewModel(['data' => $data]); } public function update($id) { $data = []; return new ViewModel(['data' => $data]); } public function delete($id) { $data = []; return new ViewModel(['data' => $data]); } } ``` This defines three controller actions: * `create`: Returns an empty array as view data. * `update`: Returns an empty array as view data, passing the `id` parameter. * `delete`: Returns an empty array as view data, passing the `id` parameter. **Step 3: Build Views** Create a new file `module/Application/views/user/form.phtml` and add the following code: ```php <h1>Edit User</h1> <form method="post"> <label for="name">Name:</label> <input type="text" id="name" name="name"><br><br> <label for="email">Email:</label> <input type="email" id="email" name="email"><br><br> <input type="submit" value="Save"> </form> ``` This defines a simple form for editing a user. **Step 4: Pass Data between Controllers and Views** In the `User` controller, add the following code to the `create` action: ```php public function create() { $data = [ 'title' => 'Create User', 'form' => [ 'name' => 'Name', 'email' => 'Email', ], ]; return new ViewModel(['data' => $data]); } ``` This passes an array of data to the view, including the form fields. **Step 5: Render the View** In the `Index` controller, add the following code to the `index` action: ```php public function index() { $user = new \Application\Model\User(); return $this->view->render('user/form.phtml', ['user' => $user]); } ``` This renders the `form.phtml` view, passing the user object as view data. **Conclusion:** You have successfully created routes, controllers, and views for a simple web application using Laminas Framework. You have demonstrated a solid understanding of the MVC architecture and the use of Laminas View for dynamic content. **Takeaways:** * Define routes for CRUD operations using the `routes.config.php` file. * Create controllers to handle requests and responses. * Build views using Laminas View for dynamic content. * Pass data between controllers and views using view data. **Exercise:** * Create a new feature for the application, such as a `Login` controller. * Define routes for the feature. * Create a controller to handle requests and responses. * Build a view to display the login form. **Question:** * How do you handle multiple routes with the same action in a controller? * What is the difference between the `index` action and the `create` action in a controller? **Comment or Ask for Help:** If you have any questions or need help with this topic, please leave a comment below.