Internals¶

Looks like you want to understand how Symfony2 works and how to extend it. That makes me very happy! This section is an in-depth explanation of the Symfony2 internals.

Note

You need to read this section only if you want to understand how Symfony2 works behind the scene, or if you want to extend Symfony2.

Overview¶

The Symfony2 code is made of several independent layers. Each layer is built on top of the previous one.

Tip

Autoloading is not managed by the framework directly; it’s done by using Composer’s autoloader (vendor/autoload.php), which is included in the app/autoload.php file.

`HttpFoundation` Component¶

The deepest level is the :namespace:`Symfony\\Component\\HttpFoundation` component. HttpFoundation provides the main objects needed to deal with HTTP. It is an Object-Oriented abstraction of some native PHP functions and variables:

The Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Request class abstracts the main PHP global variables like $_GET, $_POST, $_COOKIE, $_FILES, and $_SERVER;
The Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Response class abstracts some PHP functions like header(), setcookie(), and echo;
The Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Session class and Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\SessionStorage\SessionStorageInterface interface abstract session management session_*() functions.

Note

Read more about the HttpFoundation Component.

`HttpKernel` Component¶

On top of HttpFoundation is the :namespace:`Symfony\\Component\\HttpKernel` component. HttpKernel handles the dynamic part of HTTP; it is a thin wrapper on top of the Request and Response classes to standardize the way requests are handled. It also provides extension points and tools that makes it the ideal starting point to create a Web framework without too much overhead.

It also optionally adds configurability and extensibility, thanks to the Dependency Injection component and a powerful plugin system (bundles).

See also

Read more about the HttpKernel Component, Dependency Injection and Bundles.

`FrameworkBundle` Bundle¶

The :namespace:`Symfony\\Bundle\\FrameworkBundle` bundle is the bundle that ties the main components and libraries together to make a lightweight and fast MVC framework. It comes with a sensible default configuration and conventions to ease the learning curve.

Kernel¶

The Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel class is the central class of Symfony2 and is responsible for handling client requests. Its main goal is to “convert” a Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Request object to a Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Response object.

Every Symfony2 Kernel implements Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernelInterface:

function handle(Request $request, $type = self::MASTER_REQUEST, $catch = true)

Controllers¶

To convert a Request to a Response, the Kernel relies on a “Controller”. A Controller can be any valid PHP callable.

The Kernel delegates the selection of what Controller should be executed to an implementation of Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Controller\ControllerResolverInterface:

public function getController(Request $request);

public function getArguments(Request $request, $controller);

The :method:`Symfony\\Component\\HttpKernel\\Controller\\ControllerResolverInterface::getController` method returns the Controller (a PHP callable) associated with the given Request. The default implementation (Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Controller\ControllerResolver) looks for a _controller request attribute that represents the controller name (a “class::method” string, like Bundle\BlogBundle\PostController:indexAction).

Tip

The default implementation uses the Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\EventListener\RouterListener to define the _controller Request attribute (see kernel.request Event).

The :method:`Symfony\\Component\\HttpKernel\\Controller\\ControllerResolverInterface::getArguments` method returns an array of arguments to pass to the Controller callable. The default implementation automatically resolves the method arguments, based on the Request attributes.

Handling Requests¶

The :method:`Symfony\\Component\\HttpKernel\\HttpKernel::handle` method takes a Request and always returns a Response. To convert the Request, handle() relies on the Resolver and an ordered chain of Event notifications (see the next section for more information about each Event):

Before doing anything else, the kernel.request event is notified – if one of the listeners returns a Response, it jumps to step 8 directly;
The Resolver is called to determine the Controller to execute;
Listeners of the kernel.controller event can now manipulate the Controller callable the way they want (change it, wrap it, …);
The Kernel checks that the Controller is actually a valid PHP callable;
The Resolver is called to determine the arguments to pass to the Controller;
The Kernel calls the Controller;
If the Controller does not return a Response, listeners of the kernel.view event can convert the Controller return value to a Response;
Listeners of the kernel.response event can manipulate the Response (content and headers);
The Response is returned.

If an Exception is thrown during processing, the kernel.exception is notified and listeners are given a chance to convert the Exception to a Response. If that works, the kernel.response event is notified; if not, the Exception is re-thrown.

If you don’t want Exceptions to be caught (for embedded requests for instance), disable the kernel.exception event by passing false as the third argument to the handle() method.

Internal Requests¶

At any time during the handling of a request (the ‘master’ one), a sub-request can be handled. You can pass the request type to the handle() method (its second argument):

HttpKernelInterface::MASTER_REQUEST;
HttpKernelInterface::SUB_REQUEST.

The type is passed to all events and listeners can act accordingly (some processing must only occur on the master request).

Events¶

Each event thrown by the Kernel is a subclass of Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Event\KernelEvent. This means that each event has access to the same basic information:

:method:`Symfony\\Component\\HttpKernel\\Event\\KernelEvent::getRequestType` - returns the type of the request (HttpKernelInterface::MASTER_REQUEST or HttpKernelInterface::SUB_REQUEST);
:method:`Symfony\\Component\\HttpKernel\\Event\\KernelEvent::getKernel` - returns the Kernel handling the request;
:method:`Symfony\\Component\\HttpKernel\\Event\\KernelEvent::getRequest` - returns the current Request being handled.

`getRequestType()`¶

The getRequestType() method allows listeners to know the type of the request. For instance, if a listener must only be active for master requests, add the following code at the beginning of your listener method:

use Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernelInterface;

if (HttpKernelInterface::MASTER_REQUEST !== $event->getRequestType()) {
    // return immediately
    return;
}

Tip

If you are not yet familiar with the Symfony2 Event Dispatcher, read the Event Dispatcher Component Documentation section first.

`kernel.request` Event¶

Event Class: Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Event\GetResponseEvent

The goal of this event is to either return a Response object immediately or setup variables so that a Controller can be called after the event. Any listener can return a Response object via the setResponse() method on the event. In this case, all other listeners won’t be called.

This event is used by FrameworkBundle to populate the _controller Request attribute, via the Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\EventListener\RouterListener. RequestListener uses a Symfony\Component\Routing\RouterInterface object to match the Request and determine the Controller name (stored in the _controller Request attribute).

See also

`kernel.controller` Event¶

Event Class: Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Event\FilterControllerEvent

This event is not used by FrameworkBundle, but can be an entry point used to modify the controller that should be executed:

use Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Event\FilterControllerEvent;

public function onKernelController(FilterControllerEvent $event)
{
    $controller = $event->getController();
    // ...

    // the controller can be changed to any PHP callable
    $event->setController($controller);
}

See also

Read more on the kernel.controller event.

`kernel.view` Event¶

Event Class: Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Event\GetResponseForControllerResultEvent

This event is not used by FrameworkBundle, but it can be used to implement a view sub-system. This event is called only if the Controller does not return a Response object. The purpose of the event is to allow some other return value to be converted into a Response.

The value returned by the Controller is accessible via the getControllerResult method:

use Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Event\GetResponseForControllerResultEvent;
use Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Response;

public function onKernelView(GetResponseForControllerResultEvent $event)
{
    $val = $event->getControllerResult();
    $response = new Response();

    // ... some how customize the Response from the return value

    $event->setResponse($response);
}

See also

`kernel.response` Event¶

Event Class: Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Event\FilterResponseEvent

The purpose of this event is to allow other systems to modify or replace the Response object after its creation:

public function onKernelResponse(FilterResponseEvent $event)
{
    $response = $event->getResponse();

    // ... modify the response object
}

The FrameworkBundle registers several listeners:

Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\EventListener\ProfilerListener: collects data for the current request;
Symfony\Bundle\WebProfilerBundle\EventListener\WebDebugToolbarListener: injects the Web Debug Toolbar;
Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\EventListener\ResponseListener: fixes the Response Content-Type based on the request format;
Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\EventListener\EsiListener: adds a Surrogate-Control HTTP header when the Response needs to be parsed for ESI tags.

See also

`kernel.terminate` Event¶

The purpose of this event is to perform “heavier” tasks after the response was already served to the client.

See also

Read more on the kernel.terminate event.

`kernel.exception` Event¶

Event Class: Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Event\GetResponseForExceptionEvent

FrameworkBundle registers an Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\EventListener\ExceptionListener that forwards the Request to a given Controller (the value of the exception_listener.controller parameter – must be in the class::method notation).

A listener on this event can create and set a Response object, create and set a new Exception object, or do nothing:

use Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Event\GetResponseForExceptionEvent;
use Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Response;

public function onKernelException(GetResponseForExceptionEvent $event)
{
    $exception = $event->getException();
    $response = new Response();
    // setup the Response object based on the caught exception
    $event->setResponse($response);

    // you can alternatively set a new Exception
    // $exception = new \Exception('Some special exception');
    // $event->setException($exception);
}

Note

As Symfony ensures that the Response status code is set to the most appropriate one depending on the exception, setting the status on the response won’t work. If you want to overwrite the status code (which you should not without a good reason), set the X-Status-Code header:

return new Response(
    'Error',
    404 // ignored,
    array('X-Status-Code' => 200)
);

The Event Dispatcher¶

The event dispatcher is a standalone component that is responsible for much of the underlying logic and flow behind a Symfony request. For more information, see the Event Dispatcher Component Documentation.

See also

Read more on the kernel.exception event.

Profiler¶

When enabled, the Symfony2 profiler collects useful information about each request made to your application and store them for later analysis. Use the profiler in the development environment to help you to debug your code and enhance performance; use it in the production environment to explore problems after the fact.

You rarely have to deal with the profiler directly as Symfony2 provides visualizer tools like the Web Debug Toolbar and the Web Profiler. If you use the Symfony2 Standard Edition, the profiler, the web debug toolbar, and the web profiler are all already configured with sensible settings.

Note

The profiler collects information for all requests (simple requests, redirects, exceptions, Ajax requests, ESI requests; and for all HTTP methods and all formats). It means that for a single URL, you can have several associated profiling data (one per external request/response pair).

Visualizing Profiling Data¶

Analyzing Profiling data with the Web Profiler¶

The Web Profiler is a visualization tool for profiling data that you can use in development to debug your code and enhance performance; but it can also be used to explore problems that occur in production. It exposes all information collected by the profiler in a web interface.

Accessing the Profiling information¶

You don’t need to use the default visualizer to access the profiling information. But how can you retrieve profiling information for a specific request after the fact? When the profiler stores data about a Request, it also associates a token with it; this token is available in the X-Debug-Token HTTP header of the Response:

$profile = $container->get('profiler')->loadProfileFromResponse($response);

$profile = $container->get('profiler')->loadProfile($token);

Tip

When the profiler is enabled but not the web debug toolbar, or when you want to get the token for an Ajax request, use a tool like Firebug to get the value of the X-Debug-Token HTTP header.

Use the :method:`Symfony\\Component\\HttpKernel\\Profiler\\Profiler::find` method to access tokens based on some criteria:

// get the latest 10 tokens
$tokens = $container->get('profiler')->find('', '', 10);

// get the latest 10 tokens for all URL containing /admin/
$tokens = $container->get('profiler')->find('', '/admin/', 10);

// get the latest 10 tokens for local requests
$tokens = $container->get('profiler')->find('127.0.0.1', '', 10);

If you want to manipulate profiling data on a different machine than the one where the information were generated, use the :method:`Symfony\\Component\\HttpKernel\\Profiler\\Profiler::export` and :method:`Symfony\\Component\\HttpKernel\\Profiler\\Profiler::import` methods:

// on the production machine
$profile = $container->get('profiler')->loadProfile($token);
$data = $profiler->export($profile);

// on the development machine
$profiler->import($data);

Configuration¶

The default Symfony2 configuration comes with sensible settings for the profiler, the web debug toolbar, and the web profiler. Here is for instance the configuration for the development environment:

When only-exceptions is set to true, the profiler only collects data when an exception is thrown by the application.

When intercept-redirects is set to true, the web profiler intercepts the redirects and gives you the opportunity to look at the collected data before following the redirect.

If you enable the web profiler, you also need to mount the profiler routes:

As the profiler adds some overhead, you might want to enable it only under certain circumstances in the production environment. The only-exceptions settings limits profiling to 500 pages, but what if you want to get information when the client IP comes from a specific address, or for a limited portion of the website? You can use a Profiler Matcher, learn more about that in “/cookbook/profiler/matchers”.

Learn more from the Cookbook¶

/cookbook/testing/profiling
/cookbook/profiler/data_collector
/cookbook/event_dispatcher/class_extension
/cookbook/event_dispatcher/method_behavior

Internals¶

Overview¶

HttpFoundation Component¶

HttpKernel Component¶

FrameworkBundle Bundle¶

Kernel¶

Controllers¶

Handling Requests¶

Internal Requests¶

Events¶

getRequestType()¶

kernel.request Event¶

kernel.controller Event¶

kernel.view Event¶

kernel.response Event¶

kernel.terminate Event¶

kernel.exception Event¶

The Event Dispatcher¶

Profiler¶

Visualizing Profiling Data¶

Using the Web Debug Toolbar¶

Analyzing Profiling data with the Web Profiler¶

Accessing the Profiling information¶

Configuration¶

Learn more from the Cookbook¶

`HttpFoundation` Component¶

`HttpKernel` Component¶

`FrameworkBundle` Bundle¶

`getRequestType()`¶

`kernel.request` Event¶

`kernel.controller` Event¶

`kernel.view` Event¶

`kernel.response` Event¶

`kernel.terminate` Event¶

`kernel.exception` Event¶