Input generation library for value resolution, data persistence, templates, CSRF and protection from XSS.

This document serves as Dora API documentation. If you prefer, you can learn Dora API while browsing the interactive demonstration and use this document for the API reference.

Form is a data container.

/**
 * @param array $data Data used to populate Input generated using an instance of this Form.
 * @param null|string $template Template class name.
 */
$form = new \Gajus\Dora\Form([
    'foo' => 'Heeeere\'s...Johnny!',
    'bar' => 'Yada, yada, yada.',
    'baz' => 0,
    'qux' => ['1', 2 => '3'],
    'corge[grault]' = 'garply'
], null);

Input generated using an instance of the Form will inherit Form data.

echo $form->input('foo');

Input with name "foo" will inherit "Heeeere's...Johnny!" value:

<input name="foo" type="text" value="Heeeere's...Johnny!">

Input can be any type of HTML input.

echo $form->input('bar', ['type' => 'textarea', 'class' => 'test']);
echo $form->input('baz', null, ['options' => ['Knock, knock...', 'Come in.']]);

<textarea class="test" name="bar">Yada, yada, yada.</textarea>
<select name="baz">
    <option value="0" selected="selected">Knock, knock...</option>
    <option value="1">Come in.</option>
</select>

Input name can resolve value from an array:

echo $form->input('corge[grault]');

When Input is declared using variable array syntax, Input index (ie., order in which Input is generated) will be matched against the value with the respective index in the data array.

echo $form->input('qux[]');
echo $form->input('qux[]');
echo $form->input('qux[]');

<input name="qux[]" type="text" value="1">
<input name="qux[]" type="text" value="">
<input name="qux[]" type="text" value="3">

Input is a standalone entity defined with four parameters. Only the first parameter is required.

/**
 * @param string $name Input name.
 * @param array $attributes HTML attributes.
 * @param array $properties Input properties, e.g. input name.
 * @param null|string $template Template class name.
 */
new \Gajus\Dora\Input('foo', ['type' => 'textarea'], ['name' => 'Foo'], null);

Most of the time, Form will act as a factory to produce Input (like in all the examples on this page).

HTML attributes that are added to the generated input. All attributes will be taken literally except "type". "type" attribute will change the actual input type, e.g. "select" will make input <select>, "textarea" will make it <textarea>.

Input properties are used at the time of generating the input template.

Input can be dressed using a Template. Template is utilsed when input is casted into a string. Form template will become the default template for all the Input generated using an instance of that Form:

$form = new \Gajus\Dora\Form([], 'Gajus\Dora\Template\Traditional');

"Gajus\Dora\Template\Traditional" is the default template. null will return input without template.

Traditional template consists of label, input and optional description.

<?php
namespace Gajus\Dora\Template;

/**
 * @link https://github.com/gajus/dora for the canonical source repository
 * @license https://github.com/gajus/dora/blob/master/LICENSE BSD 3-Clause
 */
class Traditional extends \Gajus\Dora\Template {
    public function toString () {
        $input = $this->getInput();
        $input_id = $input->getAttribute('id');
        $description = $input->getProperty('description');

        $class = $input->getProperty('class');
        $class = $class ? ' ' . $class : '';

        ob_start();?>
        <div class="dora-input<?=$class?>">
            <label for="<?=$input_id?>"><?=$input->getProperty('name')?></label>
            <?=$input?>
            
            <?php if ($description):?>
            <div class="description">
                <p><?=$description?></p>
            </div>
            <?php endif;?>
        </div>
        <?php
        return ob_get_clean();
    }
}

Dora or the Traditional template does not impose style. The example of styling the Tranditional layout is for illustration purposes only.

Template class must extend Gajus\Dora\Template.

Refer to the existing templates to learn more.

Form generated using Dora need to be signed:

$form = new \Gajus\Dora\Form();
?>
<form>
    <?=$form->sign()?>
    <input type="submit">
</form>

The generated signature consists of UID and CSRF tokes:

<input type="hidden" name="gajus[dora][uid]" value="2953768934">
<input type="hidden" name="gajus[dora][csrf]" value="d0be2dc421be4fcd0172e5afceea3970e2f3d940">

• UID is used to recognise the an instance of the Form that has been used to generate the input. UID does not change between requests.
• CSRF is used to validate user session.

Use isSubmitted method to catch when the Form is submitted, e.g.

// $form from the preceding example.

if ($form->isSubmitted()) {
    // This will be triggered if CSRF passed.
}

Do not use:

if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] === 'POST') {}
if (isset($_POST['gajus'])) {}
if (isset($_POST['your']['input'])) {}

The above example allows CSRF vulnerability.

To bypass CSRF validation but continue to benefit from the UID form recognition, use isSubmitted(false).

If you are not familiar with cross-site request forgery (CSRF, pronounced "sea-surf"), read:

• http://shiflett.org/articles/cross-site-request-forgeries
• https://www.owasp.org/index.php/Cross-Site_Request_Forgery_%28CSRF%29

Dora assumes that application is designed using Post/Redirect/Get pattern. Dora will not populate form upon POST request because it is assumed that POST request will result in a redirect. Dora will copy POST data and store it in a temporary session. This is achieved using ./src/inc/agent.php script. If you are using composer, then this script is automatically included in every request.

Using the Post/Redirect/Get pattern requires special handling of user input. If you want to return user to the form after POST event (e.g. in case of an error), you do not want to make user re-enter all the values all over again. Dora utilises $_SESSION['gajus']['dora']['flash'] variable to copy $_POST data for one Post/Redirect/Get cycle. If you return user to the form after POST, form will be populated with the originally submitted data.

The recommended way to use Dora is through Composer.

{
    "require": {
        "gajus/dora": "0.1.*"
    }
}