Extends Template Resources {#resources.extends}

The extends: resource is used to define child/parent relationships for template inheritance from the PHP script. For details see section of Template Inheritance.

As of Smarty 3.1 the extends: resource may use any available template resource, including string: and eval:. When templates from strings are used, make sure they are properly (url or base64) encoded. Is an eval: resource found within an inheritance chain, its \"don\'t save a compile file\" property is superseded by the extends: resource. The templates within an inheritance chain are not compiled separately, though. Only a single compiled template will be generated.

Note

Use this when inheritance is required programmatically. When inheriting within PHP, it is not obvious from the child template what inheritance took place. If you have a choice, it is normally more flexible and intuitive to handle inheritance chains from within the templates.

<?php
$smarty->display('extends:parent.tpl|child.tpl|grandchild.tpl');

// inheritance from multiple template sources
$smarty->display('extends:db:parent.tpl|file:child.tpl|grandchild.tpl|eval:{block name="fooBazVar_"}hello world{/block}'); 
?>