CakePHP Naming Conventions

CakePHP requires us to follow certain convention. In this way, we will have very uniform system development, have free functionality, and save time over tracking configuration files! 🙂1. Create a Model 

• directory: app/models/
• filename: post.php 
• classname: Post
• extension: class Post extends AppModel

The filenames of models are always singular. And its classnames are CamelCased.

2. Create a Controller 

• directory: app/controllers/
• filename: posts_controller.php
• classname: PostsController
• extension: class PostsController extends AppController

The filename of a controller is always plural followed by an underscore then the word “controller” (_controller). Classnames are also CamelCased.

3. Creat a View

• directory: app/views/posts/
• filename: hello_world.ctp

You will create another view directory for each of your models. In this case, we created a directory called “posts” under app/views/ directory. Filenames are saved with the extension .ctp (I believe its “cake template page”). They are also named after the method/function (action) inside your controller.

If you have more than one word object (ex. Sponsored Member), you may use underscores to name it. In my case, I will name it “sponsored_member”.

Model: sponsored_member.php
View: app/views/sponsored_members
Controller: sponsored_members_controller.php