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+######
+Models
+######
+
+Models are **optionally** available for those who want to use a more
+traditional MVC approach.
+
+.. contents:: Page Contents
+
+What is a Model?
+================
+
+Models are PHP classes that are designed to work with information in
+your database. For example, let's say you use CodeIgniter to manage a
+blog. You might have a model class that contains functions to insert,
+update, and retrieve your blog data. Here is an example of what such a
+model class might look like::
+
+	class Blog_model extends CI_Model {
+
+	    public $title   = '';
+	    public $content = '';
+	    public $date    = '';
+
+	    function __construct()
+	    {
+	        // Call the Model constructor
+	        parent::__construct();
+	    }
+
+	    function get_last_ten_entries()
+	    {
+	        $query = $this->db->get('entries', 10);
+	        return $query->result();
+	    }
+
+	    function insert_entry()
+	    {
+	        $this->title   = $_POST['title']; // please read the below note
+	        $this->content = $_POST['content'];
+	        $this->date    = time();
+
+	        $this->db->insert('entries', $this);
+	    }
+
+	    function update_entry()
+	    {
+	        $this->title   = $_POST['title'];
+	        $this->content = $_POST['content'];
+	        $this->date    = time();
+
+	        $this->db->update('entries', $this, array('id' => $_POST['id']));
+	    }
+
+	}
+
+.. note:: The functions in the above example use the :doc:`Active
+	Record <../database/query_builder>` database functions.
+
+.. note:: For the sake of simplicity in this example we're using $_POST
+	directly. This is generally bad practice, and a more common approach
+	would be to use the :doc:`Input Class <../libraries/input>`
+	$this->input->post('title')
+
+Anatomy of a Model
+==================
+
+Model classes are stored in your **application/models/ folder**. They can be
+nested within sub-folders if you want this type of organization.
+
+The basic prototype for a model class is this::
+
+	class Model_name extends CI_Model {
+
+		public function __construct()
+		{
+			parent::__construct();
+		}
+
+	}
+
+Where **Model_name** is the name of your class. Class names **must** have
+the first letter capitalized with the rest of the name lowercase. Make
+sure your class extends the base Model class.
+
+The file name will be a lower case version of your class name. For
+example, if your class is this::
+
+	class User_model extends CI_Model {
+
+		public function __construct()
+		{
+			parent::__construct();
+		}
+
+	}
+
+Your file will be this::
+
+	application/models/user_model.php
+
+Loading a Model
+===============
+
+Your models will typically be loaded and called from within your
+:doc:`controller <controllers>` functions. To load a model you will use
+the following method::
+
+	$this->load->model('model_name');
+
+If your model is located in a sub-folder, include the relative path from
+your models folder. For example, if you have a model located at
+application/models/blog/queries.php you'll load it using::
+
+	$this->load->model('blog/queries');
+
+Once loaded, you will access your model methods using an object with the
+same name as your class::
+
+	$this->load->model('model_name');
+
+	$this->model_name->method();
+
+If you would like your model assigned to a different object name you can
+specify it via the second parameter of the loading method::
+
+	$this->load->model('model_name', 'foobar');
+
+	$this->foobar->method();
+
+Here is an example of a controller, that loads a model, then serves a
+view::
+
+	class Blog_controller extends CI_Controller {
+
+		public function blog()
+		{
+			$this->load->model('blog');
+
+			$data['query'] = $this->Blog->get_last_ten_entries();
+
+			$this->load->view('blog', $data);
+		}
+
+	}
+	
+
+Auto-loading Models
+===================
+
+If you find that you need a particular model globally throughout your
+application, you can tell CodeIgniter to auto-load it during system
+initialization. This is done by opening the
+**application/config/autoload.php** file and adding the model to the
+autoload array.
+
+Connecting to your Database
+===========================
+
+When a model is loaded it does **NOT** connect automatically to your
+database. The following options for connecting are available to you:
+
+-  You can connect using the standard database methods :doc:`described
+   here <../database/connecting>`, either from within your
+   Controller class or your Model class.
+-  You can tell the model loading function to auto-connect by passing
+   TRUE (boolean) via the third parameter, and connectivity settings, as
+   defined in your database config file will be used:
+   ::
+
+	$this->load->model('model_name', '', TRUE);
+
+-  You can manually pass database connectivity settings via the third
+   parameter::
+
+	$config['hostname'] = 'localhost';
+	$config['username'] = 'myusername';
+	$config['password'] = 'mypassword';
+	$config['database'] = 'mydatabase';
+	$config['dbdriver'] = 'mysqli';
+	$config['dbprefix'] = '';
+	$config['pconnect'] = FALSE;
+	$config['db_debug'] = TRUE;
+
+	$this->load->model('Model_name', '', $config);
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