set(array('posts' => $posts, '_serialize' => 'posts'));` * * When the view is rendered, the `$posts` view variable will be serialized * into JSON. * * You can also define `'_serialize'` as an array. This will create a top level object containing * all the named view variables: * * {{{ * $this->set(compact('posts', 'users', 'stuff')); * $this->set('_serialize', array('posts', 'users')); * }}} * * The above would generate a JSON object that looks like: * * `{"posts": [...], "users": [...]}` * * If you don't use the `_serialize` key, you will need a view. You can use extended * views to provide layout like functionality. * * @package Cake.View * @since CakePHP(tm) v 2.1.0 */ class JsonView extends View { /** * JSON views are always located in the 'json' sub directory for a * controllers views. * * @var string */ public $subDir = 'json'; /** * Constructor * * @param Controller $controller */ public function __construct(Controller $controller = null) { parent::__construct($controller); if (isset($controller->response) && $controller->response instanceof CakeResponse) { $controller->response->type('json'); } } /** * Render a JSON view. * * Uses the special '_serialize' parameter to convert a set of * view variables into a JSON response. Makes generating simple * JSON responses very easy. You can omit the '_serialize' parameter, * and use a normal view + layout as well. * * @param string $view The view being rendered. * @param string $layout The layout being rendered. * @return string The rendered view. */ public function render($view = null, $layout = null) { if (isset($this->viewVars['_serialize'])) { return $this->_serialize($this->viewVars['_serialize']); } if ($view !== false && $viewFileName = $this->_getViewFileName($view)) { return parent::render($view, false); } } /** * Serialize view vars * * @param array $serialize The viewVars that need to be serialized * @return string The serialized data */ protected function _serialize($serialize) { if (is_array($serialize)) { $data = array(); foreach ($serialize as $key) { $data[$key] = $this->viewVars[$key]; } } else { $data = isset($this->viewVars[$serialize]) ? $this->viewVars[$serialize] : null; } return json_encode($data); } }