How to use associations in views correctly?

Question

I want to make simple output. This is part of list.phtml:

// more code
<td>
    <a href="<?=$this->url('news', array('action'=>'full', 'id' => $item['id']));?>"><?=$item['title'];?></a> 
</td>
<td>
    <?=$item['category']->getName();?>
</td>
<td>
    <?=$item['user']->getDisplayName();?>
</td>
// more code

As you see I am outputting name in a tag, category name and user name. I am working with models, so $item['category'] is object of class Category and $item['user'] is object of class User.

The question is it correct get values this way or should I do it in controller or somehow else?

Answer 1

Instead of passing the entire object to your view and calling its methods there, return an array in your controller action that has the exact view variables that you will need to use in your view file.

Like this:

class FooController extends FooClass
{
    public function listAction()
    {
        // do stuff

        // setting view variables
        return array(
            'category_name' => $your_object->getName(),
            'display_name'  => $your_object2->getDisplayName()
        );
    }
}

That way in your view file all you have to do is:

<td>
    <?php echo $this->category_name;?>
</td>
<td>
    <?php echo $this->display_name;?>
</td>