CakePHP has a number of core components that can be used with an application (email, cookie, session, etc). One of the controllers that I am currently using on a project calls a custom component. (I often use controllers that do not have an associated Data Model, but use custom components instead). Setting up a custom component is rather simple.

Creating The Component

Components extend the Object Class. Be sure to use CamelCase naming convention. All components are suffixed with ‘Component’.

class DomainSearchComponent extends Object {
 
     function checkDomain() {
 
     }
}

The structure of the component is the same as any other PHP class.

The component file is stored under app/controllers/components.

Using the Component

To use the Component in a controller, you first have to let CakePHP know that it exists.

class DomainnamesController extends AppController {
        var $components = array('DomainSearch');
}

Now you can call a component method from within the controller.

class DomainnamesController extends AppController {
        var $components = array('DomainSearch');
        function search() {
		return $this->DomainSearch->checkDomain();
	}
}

That’s it.