Variables
Template variables start with the $dollar sign. They can contain numbers, letters and underscores, much like a PHP variable. You can reference arrays by index numerically or non-numerically. Also reference object properties and methods.
Config file variables are an exception to
the \$dollar syntax and are instead referenced with surrounding
#hashmarks#, or via the $smarty.config
variable.
Examples
{$foo} <-- displaying a simple variable (non array/object)
{$foo[4]} <-- display the 5th element of a zero-indexed array
{$foo.bar} <-- display the "bar" key value of an array, similar to PHP $foo['bar']
{$foo.$bar} <-- display variable key value of an array, similar to PHP $foo[$bar]
{$foo->bar} <-- display the object property "bar"
{$foo->bar()} <-- display the return value of object method "bar"
{#foo#} <-- display the config file variable "foo"
{$smarty.config.foo} <-- synonym for {#foo#}
{$foo[bar]} <-- syntax only valid in a section loop, see {section}
{assign var=foo value='baa'}{$foo} <-- displays "baa", see {assign}
Many other combinations are allowed
{$foo.bar.baz}
{$foo.$bar.$baz}
{$foo[4].baz}
{$foo[4].$baz}
{$foo.bar.baz[4]}
{$foo->bar($baz,2,$bar)} <-- passing parameters
{"foo"} <-- static values are allowed
{* display the server variable "SERVER_NAME" ($_SERVER['SERVER_NAME'])*}
{$smarty.server.SERVER_NAME}
Math and embedding tags:
{$x+$y} // will output the sum of x and y.
{assign var=foo value=$x+$y} // in attributes
{$foo[$x+3]} // as array index
{$foo={counter}+3} // tags within tags
{$foo="this is message {counter}"} // tags within double quoted strings
Defining Arrays:
{assign var=foo value=[1,2,3]}
{assign var=foo value=['y'=>'yellow','b'=>'blue']}
{assign var=foo value=[1,[9,8],3]} // can be nested
Short variable assignment:
{$foo=$bar+2}
{$foo = strlen($bar)} // function in assignment
{$foo = myfunct( ($x+$y)*3 )} // as function parameter
{$foo.bar=1} // assign to specific array element
{$foo.bar.baz=1}
{$foo[]=1} // appending to an array
Smarty "dot" syntax (note: embedded {} are used to address ambiguities):
{$foo.a.b.c} => $foo['a']['b']['c']
{$foo.a.$b.c} => $foo['a'][$b]['c'] // with variable index
{$foo.a.{$b+4}.c} => $foo['a'][$b+4]['c'] // with expression as index
{$foo.a.{$b.c}} => $foo['a'][$b['c']] // with nested index
PHP-like syntax, alternative to "dot" syntax:
{$foo[1]} // normal access
{$foo['bar']}
{$foo['bar'][1]}
{$foo[$x+$x]} // index may contain any expression
{$foo[$bar[1]]} // nested index
{$foo[section_name]} // smarty {section} access, not array access!
Variable variables:
$foo // normal variable
$foo_{$bar} // variable name containing other variable
$foo_{$x+$y} // variable name containing expressions
$foo_{$bar}_buh_{$blar} // variable name with multiple segments
{$foo_{$x}} // will output the variable $foo_1 if $x has a value of 1.
Object chaining:
{$object->method1($x)->method2($y)}
Note
Although Smarty can handle some very complex expressions and syntax, it is a good rule of thumb to keep the template syntax minimal and focused on presentation. If you find your template syntax getting too complex, it may be a good idea to move the bits that do not deal explicitly with presentation to PHP by way of plugins or modifiers.
Request variables such as $_GET
, $_SESSION
, etc are available via
the reserved $smarty
variable.
See also $smarty
, config
variables
{assign}
and assign()
.