CodeIgniter Interview Questions and AnswersList

Read the most frequently asked 50 top CodeIgniter Interview Questions and Answers for freshers
and experienced pdf, Top 50 CodeIgniter Interview Questions and Answers. Codeigniter is an
open source framework for web application. It is used to develop websites on PHP. It is loosely based
on MVC pattern, and it is easy to use compare to other PHP framework.
1) Explain what is CodeIgniter?
Codeigniter is an open source framework for web application. It is used to develop websites on PHP.
It is loosely based on MVC pattern, and it is easy to use compare to other PHP framework.

2) Explain what are hooks in CodeIgniter?

Codeigniter’s hooks feature provides a way to change the inner working of the framework without
hacking the core files. In other word, hooks allow you to execute a script with a particular path within
the Codeigniter. Usually, it is defined in application/config/hooks.php file.
The hooks feature can be globally enabled/disabled by setting the following item in the
application/config/config.php file:
$config[‘enablehooks’] = TRUE;

3) Explain how you will load or add a model in CodeIgniter?

Within your controller functions, models will typically be loaded; you will use the function
$this->load->model (‘Model_Name’);

4) Explain what helpers in CodeIgniter are and how you can load a helper file?
In CodeIgniter, helpers are group of function in a particular category that assist you to perform specific
functions. In CodeIgniter, you will find many helpers like URL helpers- helping in creating links, Text
helpers- perform various text formatting routines, Cookies- helpers set and read cookies. You can
load helper file by using command $this->load->helper (‘name’) ;

5) Explain routing in Codeigniter?

In CodeIgniter, the way PHP files served is different rather than accessing it directly from the browser.
This process is called routing. Routing in CodeIgniter gives you freedom to customize the default URL
pattern to use our own URL pattern according to the requirement. So, whenever there is a request
made and matches our URL pattern it will automatically direct to the specified controller and function.

6) Why is there a need to configure the URL routes?

Changing the URL routes has some benefits like From SEO point of view, to make URL SEO friendly
and get more user visits Hide some URL element such as a function name, controller name, etc. from
the users for security reasons Provide different functionality to particular parts of a system.

7) List out different types of hook point in Codeigniter?

Different types of hook point in Codeigniter includes
post_controller_constructor
pre_controller
post_sytem
pre_system
cache_override
display_override
post_controller
$hook[‘pre_controller’] = array(
‘class’ => ‘MyClass’,
‘function’ => ‘Myfunction’,
‘filename’ => ‘Myclass.php’,
‘filepath’ => ‘hooks’,
‘params’ => array(‘param1’, ‘param2’, ‘param3’)
);
8) Mention what are the security parameter for XSS in CodeIgniter?
Codeigniter has got a cross-site scripting hack prevention filter. This filter either runs automatically or
you can run it as per item basis, to filter all POST and COOKIE data that come across. The XSS filter
will target the commonly used methods to trigger JavaScript or other types of code that attempt to
hijack cookies or other malicious activity. If it detects any suspicious thing or anything disallowed is
encountered, it will convert
the data to character entities.

9) Explain how you can link images/CSS/JavaScript from a view in code igniter?
In HTML, there is no Codeigniter way, as such it is a PHP server side framework. Just use an
absolute path to your resources to link images/CSS/JavaScript from a view in CodeIgniter
/css/styles.css
/js/query.php
/img/news/566.gpg

10) Explain what is inhibitor in CodeIgniter?

For CodeIgniter, inhibitor is an error handler class, using the native PHP functions like
set_exception_handler, set_error_handler, register_shutdown_function to handle parse errors,
exceptions, and fatal errors.

11) Mention what is the default URL pattern used in Codeigniter framework?
Codeigniter framework URL has four main components in default URL pattern. First we have the
server name and next we have the controller class name followed by controller function name and
function parameters at the end. Codeigniter can be accessed using the URL helper. For example
http://servername/controllerName/controllerFunction/parameter1/parameter2.

12) Explain how you can extend the class in Codeigniter?

To extend the native input class in CodeIgniter, you have to build a file named
application/core/MY_Input.php and declare your class with
Class MY_Input extends CI_Input {
}

13) Explain how you can prevent CodeIgniter from CSRF?

There are several ways to protect CodeIgniter from CSRF, one way of doing is to use a hidden field in
each form on the website. This hidden field is referred as CSRF token; it is nothing but a random
value that alters with each HTTP request sent. As soon as it is inserted in the website forms, it gets
saved in the user’s session as well. So, when the form is submitted by the users, the website checks
whether it is the same as the one saved in the session. If it is same then, the request is legitimate.

14) Explain how you can enable CSRF (Cross Site Request Forgery) in CodeIgniter?
You can activate CSRF (Cross Site Request Forgery) protection in CodeIgniter by operating your
application/config/config.php file and setting it to $config [ ‘csrf_protection’] = TRUE;
If you avail the form helper, the form_open() function will insert a hidden csrf field in your forms
automatically

15) What is Stable version of CodeIgniter?

Version: 3.0.5,
Date January 13, 2016

16) In Which language CodeIgniter is written?

PHP

17) What are the features of codeigniter? Open source framework

Light Weight
CodeIgniter is Extensible
Full Featured database classes
18) How to access config variable in codeigniter?
$this->config->item(‘variable name’);

19) How to unset session in codeigniter?

$this->session->unsetuserdata(‘somename’);;

20) How do you get last insert id in codeigniter?

$this->db->insertid();;

22) What helpers in CodeIgniter?

You can to execute below command.

23) Explain Codeigniter File Structure?

following are the folder structure :-
application
cache
Config
Controllers
core
errors
helpers
hooks
language
libraries
logs
models
thirdparty
views
system
core
database
fonts
helpers
language
libraries

24) Explain Application Flow Chart in codeigniter?

The following graphic illustrates how data flows throughout the system:
CodeIgniter application flow The index.php serves as the front controller, initializing the base
resources needed to run CodeIgniter.
The Router examines the HTTP request to determine what should be done with it.
If a cache file exists, it is sent directly to the browser, bypassing the normal system execution.
Security. Before the application controller is loaded, the HTTP request and any user submitted data is
filtered for security.
The Controller loads the model, core libraries, helpers, and any other resources needed to process
the specific request.
The finalized View is rendered then sent to the web browser to be seen. If caching is enabled, the
view is cached first so that on subsequent requests it can be served.

25) Explain MVC in Codeigniter?

CodeIgniter is based on the Model-View-Controller development pattern. MVC is a software approach
that separates application logic from presentation.
In practice, it permits your web pages to contain minimal scripting since the presentation is separate
from the PHP scripting.
The Model represents your data structures. Typically your model classes will contain functions that
help you retrieve, insert, and update information in your database.
The View is the information that is being presented to a user.
A View will normally be a web page, but in CodeIgniter, a view can also be a page fragment like a
header or footer. It can also be an RSS page, or any other type of “page”.
The Controller serves as an intermediary between the Model, the View, and any other resources
needed to process the HTTP request and generate a web page.

26) What are the helpers in codeigniter?

Helpers, as the name suggests, help you with tasks. Each helper file is simply a collection of functions
in a particular category. There are URL Helpers, that assist in creating links, there are Form Helpers
that help you create form elements, Text Helpers perform various text formatting routines, Cookie
Helpers set and read cookies, File Helpers help you deal with files, etc.
Unlike most other systems in CodeIgniter, Helpers are not written in an Object Oriented format. They
are simple, procedural functions. Each helper function performs one specific task, with no
dependence on other functions.
Loading a helper file is quite simple using the following function:
$this->load->helper(‘name’);

27) How you will use or add codeigniter libraries?

When we use the term “Libraries” we are normally referring to the classes that are located in the
libraries directory and described in the Class Reference of this user guide. In this case, however, we
will instead describe how you can create your own libraries within your application/libraries directory in
order to maintain separation between your local resources and the global framework resources.

28) How you will work with error handling in codeigniter?

CodeIgniter lets you build error reporting into your applications using the functions described below. In
addition, it has an error logging class that permits error and debugging messages to be saved as text
files.
show_error(‘message’ [, int $statuscode= 500 ] )
This function will display the error message supplied to it using template
application/errors/errorgeneral.php.
show_404(‘page’ [, ‘logerror’])
This function will display the 404 error message supplied to it using template
application/errors/error404.php.
log_message(‘level’, ‘message’)
This function lets you write messages to your log files. You must supply one of three “levels” in the
first parameter, indicating what type of message it is (debug, error, info), with the message itself in the
second parameter.

29) How to unset session in codeigniter?

We can use unsetuserdata to destroy particular session variable
this->session->unset_userdata(‘somename’);
We can use sessdestroy to destroy all session:
$this->session->sess_destroy();

30) How do you use aliases with autoloading models in codeigniter?

We can auto load model like this:
$autoload[‘model’] = array(array(‘usersmodel’, ‘users’), array(‘newsmodel’, ‘news’), ‘categorymodel’);

31) How to get random records in mysql using codeigniter?

We can use this:
$this->db->order_by(‘id’,’RANDOM’);

32) What are the security parameter for XSS in CodeIgniter?

Codeigniter has got a cross-site scripting hack prevention filter. This filter either runs automatically or
you can run it as per item basis, to filter all POST and COOKIE data that come across. The XSS filter
will target the commonly used methods to trigger JavaScript or other types of code that attempt to
hijack cookies or other malicious activity. If it detects any suspicious thing or anything disallowed is
encountered, it will convert
the data to character entities.

33) How do you set default timezone in codeigniter?

We can do by adding date_default_timezone_set(‘America/LosAngeles’); in index.php

34) Who developed codeigniter?

Codeigniter was developed bt ellislab Inc.

35) Why codeigniter is called as loosely based mvc framework?

Reason behind this is we does not need to follow strict mvc pattern while creating application.We can
also able to build with model only view and controllers are enough to built a application.

36) How do I pass parameters to a controller’s index() function?

The obvious problem is that a second parameter on the URL will be interpreted as the method name.
Short answer – use a URL like this:
/controller/index/param1/param2 Long answer – using _remap()

37) How do I do a COUNT(‘foo’) using the Active Record functions?

You need to use the SQL AS feature, where you assign a new name to a piece of data. For example:
$this->db->select(“COUNT(‘foo’) AS foo_count”,
FALSE);// Run your query, and then use the

38) How do I call one Controller’s methods from a different Controller?

12 Short answer: You don’t Wrong answer: Use the $CI = get_instance() trick. Long answer: You
shouldn’t actually be trying to do this. It implies that your design isn’t quite right, but on the

39) Can I cache only certain parts of a page?

This is related to the question above about nested templates and partials. Basically, CI cache library
(1.5.4) only supports full page caching – it’s all or nothing. There are several

40) Can I extend the core Database class?

No, you can not. This is quite explicitly described in the Creating Libraries section of the user guide:
[quote] The Database classes can not be extended or replaced with your own classes, nor can

41) How do I see the actual raw SQL query generated by CI’s Active Record
You can also use $this->db->get_compiled_select() , difference between get_compiled_select() and
last_query() is that get_compiled_select() gives the query string generated even if you don't run the
query against the database.

42) Is there a way to cycle $this->input->post() items?

There are no CodeIgniter functions to do this, but you can accomplish this easily with a construct such
as this one. The result of this function is a $safe_post_array that contains all posted data

43) Tell me the Setting Database Configuration

Setting Database Configurations in Codeigniter very tiny task , just open database.php within
applicationconfig. Set config like below , here database user “root”, password “”(no password), DB
Name “db_name”.
if you want to disable persistent connnect just change $db['default']['pconnect'] = TRUE; to
$db['default']['pconnect'] = FALSE;
if you want to Hide(disable) Database Error just change $db['default']['db_debug'] = TRUE; to
$db['default']['db_debug'] = FALSE;
just like above changes to the configuration values you can change any of the DB config
values(settings) any time to the config array.
Here the sample database.php script
$active_group = 'default';
$active_record = TRUE;
$db['default']['hostname'] = 'localhost';
$db['default']['username'] = 'root';
$db['default']['password'] = '';
$db['default']['database'] = 'db_name';
$db['default']['dbdriver'] = 'mysql';
$db['default']['dbprefix'] = '';
$db['default']['pconnect'] = TRUE;
$db['default']['db_debug'] = TRUE;
$db['default']['cache_on'] = FALSE;
$db['default']['cachedir'] = '';
$db['default']['char_set'] = 'utf8';
$db['default']['dbcollat'] = 'utf8_general_ci';
$db['default']['swap_pre'] = '';
$db['default']['autoinit'] = TRUE;
$db['default']['stricton'] = false;

44) How you will use or add codeigniter libraries?

When we use the term “Libraries” we are normally referring to the classes that are located in the
libraries directory and described in the Class Reference of this user guide. In this case, however,

45) How you will work with error handling in codeigniter?

show_error() function displays errors in HTML format at the top of the screen.
Syntax:
show_error($message, $status_code, $heading = 'An Error Was Encountered')

46) Explain routing in Codeigniter?

In CodeIgniter, the way PHP files served is different rather than accessing it directly from the browser.
This process is called routing. Routing in CodeIgniter gives you freedom to customize the

47) Why is there a need to configure the URL routes?

Changing the URL routes has some benefits like From SEO point of view, to make URL SEO friendly
and get more user visits Hide some URL element such as a function name, controller name, etc. from

48) Explain how you can prevent CodeIgniter from CSRF?

There are several ways to protect CodeIgniter from CSRF, one way of doing is to use a hidden field in
each form on the website. This hidden field is referred as CSRF token;

49) Explain how you can enable CSRF (Cross Site Request Forgery) in CodeIgniter?
You can activate CSRF (Cross Site Request Forgery) protection in CodeIgniter by operating your
application/config/config.php file and setting it to
$config [ ‘csrf_protection’] =

50) What is the difference between set_flashdata and set_userdata?

set_userdata is for adding session data.
set_flashdata is for adding session data that will only be available for the next request, and is then
automatically cleared.