CodeIgniter Common Header Include

Question

I am very new to CodeIgniter, but I think I have a grasp on how it works.

Typically when I make a website, like a 5-page site, I have my header file in a php file which is included in each page, so that if I have to alter the header I only have to do it in one spot rather than changing it five times.

In my CodeIgniter application, I have a function for each page in my controller which loads a different view, depending on the function. For example,

    public function Index() {

    $data = array();
    $this->load->view('index',$data);

}

public function blog() {

    $data = array();
    $this->load->view('inner1',$data);

}

Then I can put all my logic in the controller.

What's the best way to have one referenced header? Should I put it in the controller as a variable and then send it as data to each view?

Also, if there's a more efficient way of doing this, please suggest it!

Thanks!

Answer 1

What I usually do is make the header in a view, and then add the header view to the controller above index... you can do the same with footer too.

So it would be something like:

public function blog() {

   $data = array();
   $this->load->view('Header'); // just the header file
   $this->load->view('inner1',$data); //your main content
}

Make sense?

Added: You can also include your entire head tag in there too, like your meta tags, title, css links etc. But I usually put those in another view because sometimes they are different depending on the page.