How to use Helpers in Magento

We previously created a module, we will now learn how to use a helper in it !

What is a Helper ?

As the name suggests, a "helper" is something that is done to help! It is an object that contains functions that are going to be practical and you can call from anywhere. For example :

$helper = Mage::helper('pfay_films');

Note that this call is actually equivalent to:

$helper = Mage::helper('pfay_films/data');

By default the helper "data" is called.

Create our Helper

As usual it starts by declaring it in the config.xml of your module in <global>

<helpers>
   <pfay_films>
          <class>Pfay_Films_Helper</class>
    </pfay_films>
</helpers>

Then creates the folder and the file app/code/local/Pfay/Films/Helper/Data.php which takes as argument a number and returns this number doubled. A helper is an object that extends Mage_Core_Helper_Abstract.

class Pfay_Films_Helper_Data extends Mage_Core_Helper_Abstract
{
   public function foisdeux($nbr)
   {
        return $nbr*2;
   }
}

Now in our Block /app/code/local/Pfay/Films/Block/Monblock.php let's call the methodblock function by :

class Pfay_Films_Block_Monblock extends Mage_Core_Block_Template
{
      public function methodblock()
      {
            $helper = Mage::helper('pfay_films');
            return '2*2 = '.$helper->foisdeux(2);
      }
}

You can now test it ! When you go on http://votresite.com/index.php/films/index/, it works !

That you understand how to create a helper on magento, I invite you to practice, it is the only way to be better;) If you have questions, feel free to leave a comment. If that does not work for you, you can download my code and compare it with your own to find the difference.