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Answer 1

+2 A:

Conventionally, underscores at the beginning of identifiers mean "This is private/internal stuff. You probably don't want to mess with it from other modules."

SamB 2010-03-31 17:19:18

Thanks Sam. I didn't consider that you could just write your own functions in the template.php so it makes sense to underscore them with you theme name.

Nick Lowman 2010-04-01 09:40:21

Answer 2

A:

What SamB says, and also: functions in template.php only have to start with the theme name if they are meant to override an existing theme function. For example, when overriding theme_foo($variables), you use mytheme_foo($variables) in the template.php of the 'mytheme' theme. It's perfectly okay to add your own functions, like calculate_some_value() or _calculate_some_value(), if that helps you code your theme.

marcvangend 2010-03-31 20:16:39

Generally due the lack of namespace in PHP, you don't create functions that doesn't contain the module or theme name to avoid naming colission. But this is a best practice not a requirement.

googletorp 2010-04-01 00:06:54

-1 - **It is not 'perfectly ok'** to name your own functions as you wish! While it is correct that only overrides are *technically required* to start with the theme name, other functions should do this as well to *prevent naming clashes with other modules/themes* (the prefix convention is a kind of 'poor mans' solution to the lack of namespaces in PHP)

Henrik Opel 2010-04-01 00:11:01

Please, if you quote, quote correctly. I'm not saying that it's okay to name as you wish. All I meant to say, is that it's okay to add your own functions besides theme override functions. I apologize if I didn't make myself clear enough. Proper namespacing is always good practice.

marcvangend 2010-04-01 00:31:01

@marcvanged: Sorry for the imprecise quoting! I think I understood you alright - I just wanted to emphasize the point that the naming convention should be followed for non-override functions as well, even if not required.

Henrik Opel 2010-04-01 09:21:42

Thanks for all your comments. Very helpful:)

Nick Lowman 2010-04-01 09:41:30

@Henrik: ok, I understand, no hurt feelings.

marcvangend 2010-04-01 10:00:23

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Underscore before theme name

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