Zend Framework: Return view as JSON - zend-framework

Question

so my question is: What would be the best way to return the html of a response as JSON encoded string?
I know there are the typical json action helpers but they dont fit my need.
What i need is a way to return the complete html of a view as a json string if the request is an ajax-request.
Because i want to change my app to only load the content of the main container and i also need to pass along a few other variables during the request i need to find a way to do so :)
Maybe someone has already had some experience with that!

Answer 1

I can propose another solution:
1 - create a plugins directory in application directory.
In this directory create the plugin POutput.php like that:
<?php
class Application_Plugin_POutput extends Zend_Controller_Plugin_Abstract
{
public function postDispatch(Zend_Controller_Request_Abstract $request)
{
if (Zend_Registry::get('Output_Json'))
Zend_Layout::getMvcInstance()->setLayout('layout_json');
}
}
2 - Create a new layout "layout_json.phtml" like that:
<?php
echo $this->json($this->layout()->content); ?>
You can see the documentation for options about this helper
3 - Call the plugin in the bootstrap like that:
protected function _initPlugins(){
$front = Zend_Controller_Front::getInstance();
$front->registerPlugin(new Application_Plugin_POutput());
}
4 - In the bootstrap, for example, initiate the variable Output_Json like that:
protected function _initJson(){
Zend_Registry::set('Output_Json', true); // true for Json output, False for Html output
}
With this method, you do not have to change all your controller. ;)
I hope that answers your question. :)

Answer 2

I do not know what is the best way, but I'll give you mine.
To send a json to ajax call, I do it in the controller. I disable the layout, view, and I send the json.
for example to send an array, I do:
public function fooAction() {
$this->disableLayout();
$this->_helper->viewRenderer->setNoRender(true);
...
//get array $auth with value $authentification
$auth = array('authentification' => $authentification);
return $this->_helper->json($auth);
}
And it works very well :)

Answer 3

If you want a Json response that interacts with your Model layer, you should use this:
return new JsonModel(array);
And if you need a simple response, you should use the Response class, like this:
$response = new Response();
$response->getHeaders()->addHeaders(
array(
'Content-type' => 'application/json'
));
$response->setContent($yourContent);
return $response;