The document provides an overview of Zend Framework's dispatch process: 1. The dispatch() method is called which creates request and response objects and initializes routing. 2. Plugins are notified as routing starts and stops. The appropriate route is matched to the URL. 3. More plugins are notified before and after routing. An action controller is created and its action method is called. 4. Action helpers are initialized and their methods are called before and after the action method. Output is buffered during the action dispatch process. 5. When dispatch is complete, the response content is sent and plugins are notified of the dispatch end.

1. Dispatch Process Overview
Zend_Controller_Front‐>dispatch()
Create Std. Request Object Standard: Zend_Controller_Router_Rewrite
Also
Zend_Controller_Request_Http
registered
in Plugin
Create Std. Response Object Find matching Route
Broker Write Module, Controller, Action
Zend_Controller_Response_Http Set ‚default‘ Route (which Route matches the Extract Module, Controller,
and all Parameters into the
(if not present) URL, Last‐In‐First‐Out Action and Parameters from URL
Request Object
Principle)
Plugin Call: Route Startup
Routing
Zend_Controller_Dispatcher_Standard Zend_Controller_Action_HelperBroker‐>__construct()
Plugin Call: Route Shutdown
Set Action Controller Instance in all Action Helpers (loop)
Call Init() methods of all registered Helpers
Plugin Call: dispatchLoopStartup Read Method and Action from Request Object registered in the Broker
do
Zend_Controller_Action‐>dispatch()
dsd Create Instance of the appropiate Action Controller.
Set dispatched = true in Request Object Constructor of Zend_Controller_Action creates
Zend_Controller_Action_HelperBroker.
Helper Call: PreDispatch
Plugin Call: preDispatch
Set dispatched = true in Request Object
Is Request Object reseted through a preDispatch Yes Call preDispatch()
Plugin?
Output in Buffer:
Action Controller Dispatch Process ob_start() isDispatched() == true?
No
Plugin Call: postDispatch Call Action Controller's dispatch() method Call of the Action Method
(Passes the Name of Action to the Method)
While Request Object not dispatched ( == false)
Write buffered output to the Response object Call postDispatch()
using appendBody()
Plugin Call: dispatchLoopShutdown
Destroy Action Controller Object Helper Call: PostDispatch
Send collated content from Response Object
Plugin Call Helper Call Try – Catch Block V 1.01, Created by Thorsten Ruf