Transform PHP Vars to JavaScript

Often, you’ll find yourself in situations, where you want to pass some server-side string/array/collection/whatever to your JavaScript. Traditionally, this can be a bit of a pain - especially as your app grows.

This package simplifies the process drastically.

Installation

Begin by installing this package through Composer.

composer require laracasts/utilities

If you use Laravel 4: instead install ~1.0 of this package (and use the documentation for that release). For Laravel 5 (or non-Laravel), ~2.0 will do the trick!

Laravel Users

For Laravel users, there is a service provider you can make use of to automatically register the necessary bindings.

Laravel 5.5+ users: this step may be skipped, as we can auto-register the package with the framework.


// config/app.php

'providers' => [
    '...',
    'Laracasts\Utilities\JavaScript\JavaScriptServiceProvider'
];

When this provider is booted, you’ll gain access to a helpful JavaScript facade, which you may use in your controllers.

public function index()
{
    JavaScript::put([
        'foo' => 'bar',
        'user' => User::first(),
        'age' => 29
    ]);

    return View::make('hello');
}

In Laravel 5, of course add use JavaScript; to the top of your controller.

Using the code above, you’ll now be able to access foo, user, and age from your JavaScript.

console.log(foo); // bar
console.log(user); // User Obj
console.log(age); // 29

This package, by default, binds your JavaScript variables to a “footer” view, which you will include. For example:

<body>
    <h1>My Page</h1>

    @include ('footer') // <-- Variables prepended to this view
</body>

Naturally, you can change this default to a different view. See below.

Defaults

If using Laravel, there are only two configuration options that you’ll need to worry about. First, publish the default configuration.

php artisan vendor:publish

// Or...

php artisan vendor:publish --provider="Laracasts\Utilities\JavaScript\JavaScriptServiceProvider"

This will add a new configuration file to: config/javascript.php.

<?php

return [

    /*
    |--------------------------------------------------------------------------
    | View to Bind JavaScript Vars To
    |--------------------------------------------------------------------------
    |
    | Set this value to the name of the view (or partial) that
    | you want to prepend all JavaScript variables to.
    |
    */
    'bind_js_vars_to_this_view' => 'footer',

    /*
    |--------------------------------------------------------------------------
    | JavaScript Namespace
    |--------------------------------------------------------------------------
    |
    | By default, we'll add variables to the global window object. However,
    | it's recommended that you change this to some namespace - anything.
    | That way, you can access vars, like "SomeNamespace.someVariable."
    |
    */
    'js_namespace' => 'window'

];

bind_js_vars_to_this_view

You need to update this file to specify which view you want your new JavaScript variables to be prepended to. Typically, your footer is a good place for this.

If you include something like a layouts/partials/footer partial, where you store your footer and script references, then make the bind_js_vars_to_this_view key equal to that path. Behind the scenes, the Laravel implementation of this package will listen for when that view is composed, and essentially paste the JS variables within it.

js_namespace

By default, all JavaScript vars will be nested under the global window object. You’ll likely want to change this. Update the js_namespace key with the name of your desired JavaScript namespace. It can be anything. Just remember: if you change this setting (which you should), then you’ll access all JavaScript variables, like so:

MyNewNamespace.varName

Note

Run this artisan command after changing the view path.

php artisan config:clear

Symfony2

To use this component in Symfony2 applications you can try this bundle, built on top of PHP-Vars-To-Js-Transformer.

Without Laravel

If you’re not using Laravel, then you’ll need to hard-wire things yourself. (Or, feel free to submit a pull request with an implementation for your desired framework.)

First, create an implementation of the Laracasts\Utilities\JavaScript\ViewBinder interface. This class is in charge of inserting the given JavaScript into your view/page.

<?php

class MyAppViewBinder implements Laracasts\Utilities\JavaScript\ViewBinder {

    // $js will contain your JS-formatted variable initializations
    public function bind($js)
    {
        // Do what you need to do to add this JavaScript to
        // the appropriate place in your app.
    }
}

Next, put it all together:


use Laracasts\Utilities\JavaScript\Transformers\Transformer;

$binder = new MyAppViewBinder;

$javascript = new Transformer($binder, 'window'); // change window to your desired namespace

$javascript->put(['foo' => 'bar']);

Now, you can access window.foo from your JavaScript.

Remember, though, this is only necessary if you aren’t using Laravel. If you are, then just reference the service provider, as demonstrated above.

License

View the license for this repo.