To accommodate for different URL structures (i.e. friendly URLs and mod_rewrite), all hyperlinks should be created using the URL function. Given a request path, this function will construct a relative or absolute URL which can be used to link to a page in esoTalk.
Constructing A URL
$url = URL("conversation/delete/123"); // /forum/conversation/delete/123
Constructing An Absolute URL
$url = URL("conversation/delete/123", true); // http://esotalk.org/forum/conversation/delete/123
You may construct request paths to common entities within esoTalk using the following functions. These functions ensure entity links are formatted consistently and are future-proof. However, the resulting request path still needs to be run through the URL function to properly link to a page.
Constructing A Request Path To A Conversation
$url = conversationURL(123, "Conversation Title"); // 123-conversation-title
Constructing A Request Path To A Member
$url = memberURL(123, "Toby"); // member/123-toby
Constructing A Request Path To A Post
$url = postURL(123); // conversation/post/123
Constructing A Request Path To A Search
$url = searchURL("search query", "general"); // conversations/general/?search=search+query
The URL function should only be used to link to pages. To link to resources (images or other files), use the getResource function.
Constructing A URL To An Image
$url = getResource("core/skin/avatar.png");
This function also takes into account the value of C("esoTalk.resourceURL") so that static resources may be served on a CDN.