How to return JSON from a CakePHP 2.2 controller?

Question

I'm invoking a controller function:

$.get("http://localhost/universityapp/courses/listnames", function(data){
    alert("Data Loaded: " + data);
});

And in my Controller:

public function listnames() {
    $data = Array(
        "name" => "Sergio",
        "age" => 23
    );
    $this->set('test', $data);
    $this->render('/Elements/ajaxreturn'); // This View is declared at /Elements/ajaxreturn.ctp
}

And in that View:

<?php echo json_encode($asdf); ?>

However, the Action is returning the entire page including the Layout content (header, footer, navigation).

What am I missing here? How can I return just the JSON data without the Layout content?

Andria

set $this->layout = null ; in listnames – Upsurge

@MoyedAnsari: If you write that in as your answer I'll accept it as the solution. – Andria

answer posted hope this will work for u – Upsurge

Be sure to $this->response->type('json'); too 😀 – Lager

Answer 1

You need to disable layout like this

$this->layout = null ;

Now your action will become

public function listnames() {
    $this->layout = null ;
    $data = Array(
        "name" => "Sergio",
        "age" => 23
    );
    $this->set('test', $data);
    $this->render('/Elements/ajaxreturn'); // This View is declared at /Elements/ajaxreturn.ctp
}

Upsurge

Answer 2

Set autoRender=false and return json_encode($code):-

public function returningJsonData($estado_id){
    $this->autoRender = false;

    return json_encode($this->ModelBla->find('first',array(
        'conditions'=>array('Bla.bla_child_id'=>$estado_id)
    )));
}

Twylatwyman

+1 The simpliest solution for this simple situation. – Kharif

Answer 3

Read up about JsonView on the manual.

Kovrov

Answer 4

You can try any of the following to return json response (I've taken failure case here to return json response) :

public function action() {
    $this->response->body(json_encode(array(
        'success' => 0,
        'message' => 'Invalid request.'
    )));

    $this->response->send();
    $this->_stop();
}

OR

public function action() {
    $this->layout = false;
    $this->autoRender = false;
    return json_encode(array(
        'success' => 0,
        'message' => 'Invalid request.'
    ));
}

Daffi