Models

What is a model?

Models are the layer of the MVC that are used to aggregate data. The underlying data source is typically a database, although this can be any type of source such as a flat file.

Learning by example

Model files are stored in the models directory. Here's a basic example:

/myapp/
  /models/
    page_model.php

class Page_Model extends NanoMVC_Model {
  function get_title() {
    return 'Hello';
  }

  function get_body_text() {
    return 'Hello World.';
  }
}

The model class name must match the filename (case-insensitive). The _model suffix is optional but helps with organization.

To use a model from a controller:

class Hello_Controller extends NanoMVC_Controller {
  public Page_Model $page; // Declare the model property

  function index() {
    $this->load->model('Page_Model', 'page'); // declared model property
    // The connection is cached; to reconnect, set $this->page = null

    $title = $this->page->get_title();
    $body_text = $this->page->get_body_text();

    $this->view->assign('title', $title);
    $this->view->assign('body_text', $body_text);
    $this->view->display(​'hello_view');
  }
}

By default, the model will use the default pool from the database configuration. You may load from a specific connection pool like this:

$this->load->model('Page_Model', 'page', null, 'mypool');

Multiple connection pools are supported and defined in your config_database.php file.

Using the PDO database layer

NanoMVC uses PDO for database access. Example:

class Members_Model extends NanoMVC_Model {
  function get_members() {
    $this->db->query('select * from members');
    while($row = $this->db->next()) $results[] = $row;
    return $results;
  }
}

Or:

function get_member($id) {
  return $this->db->query_one('select * from members where id = ?', [$id]);
}

Or:

function get_members() {
  return $this->db->query_all('select * from members');
}

You can pass PDO::FETCH_ASSOC, PDO::FETCH_NUM or PDO::FETCH_BOTH as a third parameter in query methods.

Build complex queries:

function get_members() {
  $this->db->select('my.foo, my.bar, my.baz'); // select specific columns from the database
  $this->db->from('mytable my'); // set the table to select data from (alias "my")
  $this->db->where('my.foo', 'test'); // add a WHERE condition: my.foo = 'test'
  $this->db->orwhere('my.foo = ? and my.bar = ?', ['test', 'test2']); // add an OR condition using parameter binding for security
  $this->db->join('jointable j', 'j.foo = my.foo', 'LEFT'); // add a LEFT JOIN with "jointable" on the condition j.foo = my.foo
  $this->db->in('my.column', ['any1', 'any2'], false); // add a WHERE IN clause with values quoted safely using PDO
  $this->db->orin('my.other_column', 'val1, val2', true); // add an OR IN clause with raw values — only use if you're sure inputs are safe
  $this->db->orderby('my.ordercolumn, j.ordercolumn desc'); // add ORDER BY clause to sort the results
  $this->db->groupby(​'my.groupbycolumn'); // add GROUP BY clause to group the results
  $this->db->limit(20, 0); // limit the result to 20 rows starting from offset 0
  $this->db->query(); // execute the assembled query
  while($row = $this->db->next()) $rows[] = $row;
  return $rows;
}

NanoMVC includes a lightweight ORM plugin, and you can also define your own by setting $config['default']['plugin']. You may also use raw queries directly.

Examples:

$this->db->query_all('select * from members where foo = ? and bar = ?', ['test', 'test2']);

$this->db->where('id', 1);
$this->db->update('tablename', ['col1' => 'val1']);

Returns true on success.

$this->db->insert('tablename', ['col1' => 'val1']);

Returns inserted ID.

$this->db->where('id', 1);
$this->db->delete('tablename');

Returns true on success. Always use WHERE with delete() to avoid wiping entire tables.

Available methods

• query() — execute a query and loop with next()
• query_all() — return all records
• query_one() — return one record
• next() — fetch next row
• last_insert_id() — get last insert ID
• num_rows() — number of rows from last SELECT
• affected_rows() — rows affected by last INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE
• last_query(bool $show_params) — see the last query string, optionally with params

Access PDO object directly

If you want to use the PDO object directly, it is available as $this->db->pdo. This allows you to use full PDO functionality, but you'll need to handle syntax, quoting, and errors manually.

function get_members() {
  $results = [];
  try {
    foreach ($this->db->pdo->query('SELECT * from members') as $row)
      $results[] = $row;
  } catch (PDOException $e) {
    trigger_error($e->getMessage());
    return false;
  }
  return $results;
}

Database Configuration

$config['default']['plugin']     = 'NanoMVC_PDO';
$config['default']['type']       = 'mysql';
$config['default']['host']       = 'localhost';
$config['default']['name']       = 'dbname';
$config['default']['user']       = 'dbuser';
$config['default']['pass']       = 'dbpass';
$config['default']['persistent'] = false;
$config['default']['charset']    = 'utf8mb4';
$config['default']['port']       = 3306; // optional
$config['default']['schema']     = 'public'; // for PostgreSQL
$config['default']['dsn']        = ''; // overrides all dsn settings inside

You may define multiple pools: $config['default'], $config['mypool'], etc.

Note: The NanoMVC_PDO plugin is officially tested with MySQL and PostgreSQL. Other PDO-supported drivers (like sqlite, sqlsrv, etc.) may work but are not guaranteed or supported by default.

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