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Layout and partial logic

PHP course · Beginner · Lesson 110/116

Learn to build a page layout by combining header, footer and content partials.

Partial and layout logic

A partial is a small piece of PHP/HTML written to be included into other files. It is not run on its own; it is called inside a layout (page skeleton).

A typical page has three partials: header.php (top header and menu), content.php (the main content) and footer.php (the bottom info). The main page calls these partials in order with include. This way all pages share the same header and footer; a change is made in one place. This pattern shows up everywhere from small sites to large frameworks.

Combining partials in a layout

To build a layout, the main file calls the partials in order with include or require. The header partial opens <html>, <head>, <body> and the menu; the footer partial closes them.

The content partial sits in between. Example: include __DIR__ . '/partials/header.php';, then content, then include __DIR__ . '/partials/footer.php';. Building paths with __DIR__ works even when partials live in different folders. You can share variables like $title with the content partial, because an included file sees the caller's scope.

Exercise Combine header and footer partials in a layout

Assign sys_get_temp_dir() to $dir. Create two partial files with file_put_contents($dir . "/header.php", "<?php echo 'HEADER'; ?>") and file_put_contents($dir . "/footer.php", "<?php echo 'FOOTER'; ?>"). Then write, in order, include $dir . "/header.php";, echo " CONTENT ";, include $dir . "/footer.php";.

Show example solution 
First set $dir = sys_get_temp_dir();. Write the header.php and footer.php partials with file_put_contents. Then add include $dir . "/header.php";, echo " CONTENT ";, include $dir . "/footer.php";.
Example solution:
<?php
// Create header and footer partials and combine in a layout
$dir = sys_get_temp_dir();
file_put_contents($dir . "/header.php", "<?php echo 'HEADER'; ?>");
file_put_contents($dir . "/footer.php", "<?php echo 'FOOTER'; ?>");
include $dir . "/header.php";
echo " CONTENT ";
include $dir . "/footer.php";

Test yourself

  1. What is a partial file?

    • A full page that runs on its own
    • A piece of code included into other files
    • A file that only contains HTML
    • A temporarily created file
    Show answer

    A piece of code included into other files — Correct. A partial is a small piece of code written to be included into other files.

  2. Complete the layout partial

    include __DIR__ . '/partials/____.php';
    Show answer 
    include __DIR__ . '/partials/footer.php';

  3. Match partials to their roles

    header.php
    Top header and menu
    content.php
    Main page content
    footer.php
    Bottom info
    sidebar.php
    Side panel

All lessons in Beginner

1 PHP basics

  1. What is PHP?
  2. PHP tags
  3. Output with echo
  4. Comments
  5. phpinfo() and PHP version
  6. Summary - PHP basics

2 Variables

  1. Declaring variables
  2. Variable naming rules
  3. Reassigning variables
  4. Combining variables
  5. Checking variables with isset() and unset()
  6. Summary - Variables

3 Data types

  1. string and int
  2. float and bool
  3. null and empty value
  4. Type checking with gettype()
  5. Detailed output with var_dump()
  6. Summary - Data types

4 Project: Calculator

  1. Project: Calculator
  2. Number input and operator selection
  3. Computing the operation
  4. Handling error cases
  5. Project final - Calculator

5 Operators

  1. Arithmetic operators
  2. Assignment operators
  3. Comparison operators
  4. Logical operators
  5. Concatenation and increment
  6. Summary - Operators

6 String basics

  1. Creating strings
  2. Length with strlen()
  3. String concatenation
  4. Variable interpolation in double quotes
  5. Escape sequences
  6. Summary - String basics

7 Conditionals

  1. The if statement
  2. else and elseif
  3. The switch statement
  4. The ternary operator
  5. Comparison pitfalls
  6. Summary - Conditionals

8 Loops

  1. The for loop
  2. The while loop
  3. The do-while loop
  4. The foreach loop
  5. break and continue
  6. Summary - Loops

9 Project: Shopping cart

  1. Project: Shopping cart
  2. Adding products to the cart
  3. Displaying the cart
  4. Computing the total
  5. Project final - Shopping cart

10 Array basics

  1. Creating arrays
  2. Accessing array elements
  3. Element count with count()
  4. Array output with print_r()
  5. Iterating an array
  6. Summary - Array basics

11 Array methods

  1. array_push() and array_pop()
  2. array_shift() and array_unshift()
  3. Merging with array_merge()
  4. Slicing with array_slice()
  5. in_array() and array_search()
  6. Summary - Array methods

12 Associative arrays

  1. Key-value pairs
  2. Accessing keys
  3. array_keys() and array_values()
  4. Key check with isset()
  5. Iterating associative arrays
  6. Summary - Associative arrays

13 Functions

  1. Defining functions
  2. Calling functions
  3. Returning values
  4. Function scope
  5. Returning arrays from functions
  6. Summary - Functions

14 Parameters

  1. Functions with parameters
  2. Default parameter values
  3. Multiple parameters
  4. Typed parameters
  5. Return type declaration
  6. Summary - Parameters

15 Project: To-do list

  1. Project: To-do list
  2. Adding tasks
  3. Listing tasks
  4. Completing tasks
  5. Project final - To-do list

16 Advanced string methods

  1. Replacing with str_replace()
  2. Slicing with substr()
  3. Searching with strpos()
  4. Splitting with explode()
  5. Joining with implode()
  6. Summary - Advanced string methods

17 Superglobals

  1. What is a superglobal?
  2. Receiving data with $_GET
  3. Receiving data with $_POST
  4. $_SERVER and server info
  5. Everything with $_REQUEST
  6. Summary - Superglobals

18 Forms

  1. Creating HTML forms
  2. Processing form data
  3. Security with htmlspecialchars()
  4. Form validation basics
  5. Showing error messages
  6. Summary - Forms

19 File inclusion

  1. Including files with include
  2. Including files with require
  3. include_once and require_once
  4. __DIR__ and path management
  5. Layout and partial logic
  6. Summary - File inclusion

20 Beginner final

  1. Challenge - Calculator
  2. Challenge - Secure feedback form
  3. Challenge - Array operations
  4. Challenge - Functions and loops
  5. Challenge - Mini CMS