The document discusses the new form framework in Symfony 2. Some key points: - Forms are decoupled from the domain model and can validate the model independently. Validation is no longer duplicated in the form and model layers. - Field types include text fields, choice fields, date fields, and field groups for sub-forms. Forms can also handle collections and embedded documents. - Validation is defined through constraints directly on the domain model properties and methods. A validator validates the model against the defined constraints. - The form automatically validates the bound model on submit by using the validator. If valid, the processed data can be used; if invalid, errors are returned.

1. The new form framework
Bernhard Schussek

2. What is different in the new form
framework?

3. symfony 1.x
User
sfForm
Controller
Domain Model

4. symfony 1.x
User
sfForm
Business Logic
Controller
Domain Model

5. symfony 1.x
User
sfForm
Business Logic
Controller
Domain Model unit testable!!

6. symfony 1.x
User
function configure()
{
unset($this['foo']);
sfFormDoctrine / sfFormPropel unset($this['bar']);
unset($this['moo']);
unset($this['comeon!']);
...
Domain Model

7. New architecture

8. Simplicity and Reusability

9. Embrace your domain model

10. Symfony 2
User
Form
Domain Model

11. Symfony 2
User
Presentation
Form
Domain Model Business Logic
designed by you™

12. Business Logic
class Customer
{
public $name = 'Default';
public getGender();
public setGender($gender);
}

13. Business Logic Presentation
class Customer Form
{
TextField
public $name = 'Default';
public getGender(); ChoiceField
public setGender($gender);
}

14. $form = new Form('customer', $customer, ...);
$form->add(new TextField('name'));
$form->add(new ChoiceField('gender', array(
'choices' => array('male', 'female'),
)));

15. $form = new Form('customer', $customer, ...);
...
if (isset($_POST['customer']))
{
$form->bind($_POST['customer']);
}

16. Business Logic Presentation
class Customer Form
{
to-one relations FieldGroup
public $address;
}

17. $group = new FieldGroup('address');
$group->add(...);
$group->add(...);
$group->add(...);
$form->add($group);

18. Business Logic Presentation
class Customer Form
{
CollectionField
to-many relations FieldGroup
public $emails;
FieldGroup
}

19. $group = new FieldGroup('emails');
$group->add(...);
$group->add(...);
$form->add(new CollectionField($group));

20. Default Localized
TextField NumberField TimeField
TextareaField IntegerField DateTimeField
CheckboxField PercentField TimezoneField
ChoiceField MoneyField RepeatedField
PasswordField DateField CollectionField
HiddenField BirthdayField FieldGroup
Special

21. ● Field groups
— light-weight subforms
— compose other fields or field groups
?
DateField
ChoiceField ChoiceField
CheckboxField CheckboxField

22. Form Rendering

23. <?php echo $form->renderFormTag('url') ?>
<?php echo $form->renderErrors() ?>
<?php echo $form->render() ?>
<input type="submit" value="Submit" />
</form>

24. <label for="<?php echo $form['name']->getId() ?>">
Enter a name
</label>
<?php echo $form['name']->renderErrors() ?>
<?php echo $form['name']->render() ?>

25. <?php echo $form['date']['day']->render() ?>
<?php echo $form['date']['month']->render() ?>
<?php echo $form['date']['year']->render() ?>

26. Validation

27. symfony 1.x
sfForm
sfValidator
Controller
Domain Model
Doctrine_Validator

28. symfony 1.x
sfForm
sfValidator
Controller Duplicate validation
logic
Domain Model
Doctrine_Validator Failed validation
leads to 505 errors

29. Symfony 2
Form
Domain Model

30. Symfony 2
Form
Validator
Domain Model

31. Symfony 2
Form
Validator
Domain Model
Validation Metadata
"how shall the domain model be validated?"

32. Customer:
properties:
name:
- MinLength: 6
birthday:
- Date: ~
gender:
- Choice: [male, female]

33. <class name="Customer">
<property name="name">
<constraint name="MinLength">6</constraint>
</property>
<property name="birthday">
<constraint name="Date" />
</property>
<property name="gender">
<constraint name="Choice">
<value>male</value>
<value>female</value>
</constraint>
</property>
</class>

34. class Customer
{
/** @Validation({ @MinLength(6) }) */
public $name;
/** @Validation({ @Choice({"male", "female"}) }) */
public function getGender();
/** @Validation({ @Valid }) */
public $gender;
}

35. Type Check String Other
AssertTrue AssertType MinLength Min
AssertFalse Date MaxLength Max
Blank DateTime Regex Choice
NotBlank Time Url Valid
Null Email Collection
NotNull File

36. ● Constraints can be put on
— Classes
— Properties
— Methods with a "get" or "is" prefix

37. $validator = $container->getService('validator');
$validator->validate($customer);

38. Independent from Symfony 2
Zend Doctrine 2 Propel

39. How does all this fit into the form
framework?

40. $form = new Form('customer', $customer,
$this->container->getService('validator'));

41. $form->bind($_POST['customer']);
if ($form->isValid())
{
// do something with $customer
}

42. ● The validation is launched automatically
upon submission

43. Common Questions

44. Q: What if my form does not translate
1:1 to a domain model?

45. A: Then the domain model doesn't
exist yet ;-)

46. ● Use Case
— Extend our form for a checkbox to accept terms
and conditions
— Should not be stored as field in the Customer
class

47. class Registration {
/** @Validation({ @Valid }) */
public $customer;
/**
* @Validation({
* @AssertTrue(message="Please accept")
* })
*/
public $termsAccepted = false;
public function process() {
// save $customer, send emails etc.
}
}

48. $form->add(new CheckboxField('termsAccepted'));
$group = new FieldGroup('customer');
$group->add(new TextField('name'));
...
$form->add($group);

49. if ($form->isValid())
{
$registration->process();
}

50. ● The Registration class
— can be reused (XML requests, …)
— can be unit tested

51. Q: What if I don't want to validate all
attributes of an object?

52. A: Use Constraint groups

53. ● Use Case
— Administrators should be able to create
Customers with empty names
— Normal users not

54. class Customer
{
/**
* @Validation({
* @NotBlank(groups="User")
* })
*/
public $name;
...
}

55. $validator->validate($customer, 'User');

56. $form->setValidationGroups('User');
$form->bind($_POST('customer'));
if ($form->isValid())
{
...
}

57. ● Constraint groups can be sequenced
— first validate group "Fast"
— then, if "Fast" was valid, validate group "Slow"

58. Questions?