AJAX

CakePHP comes with a core JsHelper that allows a developer to call PHP functions that will create the JavaScript using a number of libraries including jQuery and Prototype. Pagination in CakePHP is a very common task and it can be enhanced using AJAX. Fortunately the Pagination component/helper are built to handle the AJAX. You can set the pagination defaults in the controller with the code below. Alternatively you could set specific elements of the array inside an action with a call like $paginate['conditions'] = array();

CakePHP has some great tools for a PHP developer to crank out JavaScript functions using only PHP. The JsHelper supports Prototype/Scriptaculous, Mootools/Mootools-more, and jQuery/jQuery UI. Refer to the CakePHP Book for details on all the functions provided by the JsHelper. In this example we're going to look at a creating a contact form that submits via AJAX, but also works properly for users without JavaScript.