Variables

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# Chapter 4. Variables

Smarty has several different types of variables. The type of the variable depends on what symbol it is prefixed with (or enclosed within).

Variables in Smarty can be either displayed directly or used as arguments for function attributes and modifiers, inside conditional expressions, etc. To print a variable, simply enclose it in the delimiters so that it is the only thing contained between them. Examples:

    {$Name}

    {$Contacts[row].Phone}

    <body bgcolor="{#bgcolor#}">

# Variables assigned from PHP

Variables that are assigned from PHP are referenced by preceding them with a dollar sign `$`. Variables assigned from within the template with the assign function are also displayed this way.

Example 4-1. assigned variables
    Hello {$firstname}, glad to see you could make it.
    <br />
    Your last login was on {$lastLoginDate}.
This will output:
    Hello Doug, glad to see you could make it.
    <br />
    Your last login was on January 11th, 2001.

## Associative arrays

You can also reference associative array variables that are assigned from PHP by specifying the key after the '.' (period) symbol.

Example 4-2. accessing associative array variables
`<?php $smarty = new Smarty; $smarty->assign('Contacts', array('fax' => '555-222-9876', 'email' => 'zaphod@slartibartfast.com', 'phone' => array('home' => '555-444-3333', 'cell' => '555-111-1234'))); $smarty->display('index.tpl'); ?>`
where the content of index.tpl is:
    {$Contacts.fax}<br />
    {$Contacts.email}<br />
    {* you can print arrays of arrays as well *}
    {$Contacts.phone.home}<br />
    {$Contacts.phone.cell}<br />
this will output:
    555-222-9876<br />
    zaphod@slartibartfast.com<br />
    555-444-3333<br />
    555-111-1234<br />

## Array indexes

You can reference arrays by their index, much like native PHP syntax.

Example 4-3. accessing arrays by index
`<?php $smarty = new Smarty; $smarty->assign('Contacts', array('555-222-9876', 'zaphod@slartibartfast.com', array('555-444-3333', '555-111-1234'))); $smarty->display('index.tpl'); ?>`
where index.tpl is:
    {$Contacts[0]}<br />
    {$Contacts[1]}<br />
    {* you can print arrays of arrays as well *}
    {$Contacts[2][0]}<br />
    {$Contacts[2][1]}<br />
This will output:
    555-222-9876<br />
    zaphod@slartibartfast.com<br />
    555-444-3333<br />
    555-111-1234<br />

## Objects

Properties of objects assigned from PHP can be referenced by specifying the property name after the '->' symbol.

Example 4-4. accessing object properties
    name: {$person->name}<br />
    email: {$person->email}<br />
this will output:
    name: Zaphod Beeblebrox<br />
    email: zaphod@slartibartfast.com<br />

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