What is a view in CodeIgniter?

In CodeIgniter, a view is a fundamental component of the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern and represents the presentation layer of a web application. Views are responsible for generating the HTML and user interface that the end-users see in their web browsers. Here’s a detailed explanation of what a view is in CodeIgniter:

1. HTML Output: A view in CodeIgniter is essentially an HTML file with embedded PHP code. It contains the markup and templates necessary to render the user interface, which can include HTML tags, CSS, JavaScript, and any other content that should be displayed in the user’s browser.

2. Dynamic Content: Views can also include dynamic content generated by embedding PHP code. This allows you to display data retrieved from the database or computed by the controller. By embedding PHP tags within the HTML, you can insert variables, loops, conditions, and other logic to create dynamic and interactive web pages.

3. Separation of Concerns: One of the key principles of the MVC pattern is the separation of concerns. Views are responsible solely for the presentation and user interface aspects of an application. This separation makes it easier to maintain and modify the user interface without affecting the underlying application logic (handled by controllers and models).

4. Loading Views: In CodeIgniter, controllers are responsible for loading views and passing data to them. After processing a request, a controller decides which view(s) should be displayed to the user. It then loads the corresponding view(s) using the `$this->load->view(‘view_name’, $data)` method, where ‘view_name’ is the name of the view file and `$data` is an optional array containing data to be passed to the view.

5. Template Views: CodeIgniter allows you to create template views that provide a consistent layout and structure for multiple pages on your site. This promotes code reusability and helps maintain a consistent look and feel across your web application.

A view in CodeIgniter represents the presentation layer of your web application, responsible for generating HTML and displaying data to users. It plays a crucial role in achieving a clean separation of concerns within the MVC architecture, making your application more modular and maintainable. Views are dynamic, allowing you to create interactive web pages by embedding PHP code within the HTML.