Hooks and Events
Overview
XOOPS provides hooks and events as extension points that allow modules to interact with core functionality and each other without direct dependencies.
Hooks vs Events
| Aspect | Hooks | Events |
| Purpose | Modify behavior/data | React to occurrences |
| Return | Can return modified data | Typically void |
| Timing | Before/during action | After action |
| Pattern | Filter chain | Observer/pub-sub |
Hook System
Registering Hooks
// Register a hook in xoops_version.php
$modversion['hooks'][] = [
'name' => 'user.profile.display',
'callback' => 'mymodule_hook_user_profile',
'priority' => 10,
];
Hook Callback
// include/hooks.php
function mymodule_hook_user_profile(array $data): array
{
$userId = $data['user_id'];
// Add custom profile fields
$data['fields']['reputation'] = mymodule_get_user_reputation($userId);
$data['fields']['badges'] = mymodule_get_user_badges($userId);
return $data;
}
Available Core Hooks
| Hook Name | Data | Description |
user.profile.display | User data array | Modify profile display |
content.render | Content HTML | Filter content output |
form.submit | Form data | Validate/modify form data |
search.results | Results array | Filter search results |
menu.main | Menu items | Modify main menu |
Event System
Dispatching Events
// In your module code
$eventHandler = xoops_getHandler('event');
$eventHandler->trigger('mymodule.article.created', [
'article_id' => $article->id(),
'author_id' => $article->authorId(),
'title' => $article->title(),
]);
Listening for Events
// class/Preload.php
class MyModulePreload extends \Xmf\Module\Helper\AbstractHelper
{
public function eventMymoduleArticleCreated(array $args): void
{
$articleId = $args['article_id'];
// Notify subscribers
$this->notifyNewArticle($articleId);
}
public function eventUserLogin(array $args): void
{
$userId = $args['userid'];
// Update last login for module
$this->updateUserActivity($userId);
}
}
Preload Events Reference
Core Events
// Header/Footer
public function eventCoreHeaderStart(array $args): void {}
public function eventCoreHeaderEnd(array $args): void {}
public function eventCoreFooterStart(array $args): void {}
public function eventCoreFooterEnd(array $args): void {}
// Includes
public function eventCoreIncludeCommonStart(array $args): void {}
public function eventCoreIncludeCommonEnd(array $args): void {}
// Exceptions
public function eventCoreException(array $args): void {}
User Events
public function eventUserLogin(array $args): void {}
public function eventUserLogout(array $args): void {}
public function eventUserRegister(array $args): void {}
public function eventUserActivate(array $args): void {}
public function eventUserDelete(array $args): void {}
Module Events
public function eventSystemModuleInstall(array $args): void {}
public function eventSystemModuleUninstall(array $args): void {}
public function eventSystemModuleUpdate(array $args): void {}
public function eventSystemModuleActivate(array $args): void {}
public function eventSystemModuleDeactivate(array $args): void {}
Custom Module Events
Defining Events
// Define event constants
class ArticleEvents
{
public const CREATED = 'mymodule.article.created';
public const UPDATED = 'mymodule.article.updated';
public const DELETED = 'mymodule.article.deleted';
public const PUBLISHED = 'mymodule.article.published';
}
Triggering Events
class ArticleService
{
public function publish(Article $article): void
{
$article->publish();
$this->repository->save($article);
// Trigger event
$GLOBALS['xoopsPreload']->triggerEvent(
ArticleEvents::PUBLISHED,
['article' => $article]
);
}
}
Listening to Module Events
// In another module's Preload.php
public function eventMymoduleArticlePublished(array $args): void
{
$article = $args['article'];
// Index for search
$this->searchIndexer->index($article);
// Update sitemap
$this->sitemapGenerator->addUrl($article->url());
}
Best Practices
- Use Specific Names -
module.entity.action format - Pass Minimal Data - Only what listeners need
- Document Events - List events in module docs
- Avoid Side Effects - Keep listeners focused
- Handle Errors - Don't let listener errors break flow