Views in CodeIgniter

📘 CodeIgniter 👁 36 views 📅 Dec 22, 2025

⏱ Estimated reading time: 2 min

Views in CodeIgniter (CodeIgniter 4)

Views are responsible for the presentation layer of your application. They contain HTML (and minimal PHP) and display data passed from controllers.

1. What Is a View?

Handles UI/output
Contains HTML, CSS, and minimal PHP
Does not contain business logic
Loaded by controllers

2. View Location

app/Views/

3. Creating a View

Create a file:

app/Views/home.php

Welcome to CodeIgniter
This is the home page.

4. Loading a View from Controller

public function index()
{
    return view('home');
}

5. Passing Data to Views

Controller

public function profile()
{
    $data = [
        'name' => 'John',
        'age'  => 25
    ];
    return view('profile', $data);
}

View (`profile.php`)

Name: <?= esc($name) ?>
Age: <?= esc($age) ?>

✔ esc() prevents XSS attacks.

6. Using Layouts (Header & Footer)

Header

<!-- app/Views/layout/header.php -->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title><?= esc($title ?? 'My App') ?></title>
</head>
<body>

Footer

<!-- app/Views/layout/footer.php -->
</body>
</html>

Load in View

<?= $this->include('layout/header') ?>
Home Page
<?= $this->include('layout/footer') ?>

7. View Layouts & Sections (Recommended)

Layout File

<!-- app/Views/layout/main.php -->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
    <?= $this->renderSection('content') ?>
</body>
</html>

View File

<?= $this->extend('layout/main') ?>

<?= $this->section('content') ?>
Dashboard
<?= $this->endSection() ?>

8. Conditional Logic in Views

<?php if ($isLoggedIn): ?>
    Welcome back!
<?php else: ?>
    Please login
<?php endif; ?>

9. Looping Data in Views


<?php foreach ($users as $user): ?>
    <?= esc($user['name']) ?>
<?php endforeach; ?>

10. Loading View with Subfolders

app/Views/admin/dashboard.php

return view('admin/dashboard');

11. View Helpers

Load helpers:

helper('url');

Use:

"<?= base_url('login') ?>">Login

12. Best Practices

✅ Keep logic minimal
✅ Use layouts & sections
✅ Escape output with esc()
❌ Avoid database queries in views

Summary

Views handle presentation
Stored in app/Views
Data passed from controllers
Support layouts, sections, and helpers

🔒 Some advanced sections are available for Registered Members
Register Now

← Previous

Controllers in CodeIgniter

Share this Post

🚀 Want to Test Your Knowledge?

Take quizzes related to this topic and see where you stand!

Start Quiz Now

← Back to Tutorials

Popular Competitive Exam Quizzes

GK/GS Quiz | UPSC Exam Quiz | English Grammar Basics Quiz | Science Quiz

CodeIgniter Tutorials

Views in CodeIgniter

⏱ Estimated reading time: 2 min