Content Elements & Plugins

Extbase plugins

For usage in the TYPO3 backend Extbase plugins are registered with utility functions of class \TYPO3\CMS\Extbase\Utility\ExtensionUtility (not to be confused with \TYPO3\CMS\Core\Utility\ExtensionManagementUtility ).

An Extbase plugin is configured for the frontend with ExtensionUtility::configurePlugin() in file EXT:my_extension/ext_localconf.php:

<?php

declare(strict_types=1);
defined('TYPO3') or die();

use MyVendor\MyExtension\Controler\MyController;
use TYPO3\CMS\Extbase\Utility\ExtensionUtility;

ExtensionUtility::configurePlugin(
    'MyExtension',
    'MyPlugin',
    [MyController::class => 'list,comment'],
    [MyController::class => 'comment'],
    ExtensionUtility::PLUGIN_TYPE_CONTENT_ELEMENT,
);

By using ExtensionUtility::PLUGIN_TYPE_PLUGIN as fifth parameter is is also possible to add the plugin as a list type. See CType vs list_type plugins.

Method ExtensionUtility::configurePlugin() also takes care of registering the plugin for frontend output in TypoScript using an object of type EXTBASEPLUGIN.

If it is desired that editors can insert the Extbase plugin like a content element into the page it also needs to be registered with ExtensionUtility::registerPlugin() in the TCA Overrides, for example file EXT:my_extension/Configuration/TCA/Overrides/tt_content.php:

<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

use TYPO3\CMS\Extbase\Utility\ExtensionUtility;

defined('TYPO3') or die();

ExtensionUtility::registerPlugin(
    'MyExtension',
    'MyPlugin',
    'LLL:EXT:my_extension/Resources/Private/Language/locallang.xlf:my_plugin.title',
    'myextension_pluginicon',
    'plugins',
    'LLL:EXT:my_extension/Resources/Private/Language/locallang.xlf:my_plugin.description',
);

For a detailed explanation of Extbase plugins including examples for controllers see chapter Extbase: Extension framework in TYPO3.

Plugins without Extbase

It is possible to create a plugin without using Extbase by creating a plain PHP class as a controller.

In this case you have to define the TypoScript configuration yourself. A USER or USER_INT TypoScript object can be used to delegate the rendering to your controller:

plugin.tx_myextension_myplugin = USER_INT
plugin.tx_myextension_myplugin {
  userFunc = MyVendor\MyPlugin\Controller\MyController->doSomething
}

tt_content.myextension_myplugin < plugin.tx_myextension_myplugin

To register such a plugin as content element you can use function ExtensionManagementUtility::addPlugin() in the TCA overrides, for example EXT:my_extension/Configuration/TCA/Overrides/tt_content.php:

<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

use TYPO3\CMS\Core\Utility\ExtensionManagementUtility;

defined('TYPO3') or die();

ExtensionManagementUtility::addPlugin(
    [
        'label' => 'LLL:EXT:my_extension/Resources/Private/Language/locallang_db.xlf:my_plugin.title',
        'value' => 'myextension_myplugin',
        'group' => 'plugins',
        'icon' => 'myextension_mypluginicon',
        'description' => 'LLL:EXT:my_extension/Resources/Private/Language/locallang_db.xlf:my_plugin.description',
    ],
    'CType',
    'my_extension',
);

By using 'list_type' as second parameter is is also possible to add the plugin as a list type. See CType vs list_type plugins.

Plugins are a specific type of content elements. Plugins use the CType='list'. Each plugin has its own plugin type, which is used in the database field tt_content.list_type. The list_type could be understood as subtype of CType.

Typical characteristics of plugins

• Plugins often use additional database tables which contain records which are dynamically displayed via the plugin - often in a list view, a single view, optionally with pagination and search functionality. An extension may provide several plugins, each with a dedicated function, such as the list view.
• Plugins are often used if more complex functionality is required (than in non- plugin content elements)
• Plugins can be created using the Extbase framework or by Core functionality.

A typical extension with plugins is the georgringer/news extension which comes with plugins to display news records in lists or as a single view with only one news record.

The news records are stored in a custom database table (tx_news_domain_model_news) and can be edited in the backend.

There are also system extensions that have plugins. typo3/cms-felogin has a plugin that allow frontend users, stored in table fe_users to log into the website. typo3/cms-indexed-search has a plugin that can be used to search in the index and display search results.

CType vs list_type plugins

Historically it was common to add plugins as a list type to the content element types. In this case the column CType is set to 'list' for all plugins while the field list_type contains the key of the actual plugin.

As different plugins need different fields in the backend form this let to the creation of all type of complicated TCA constructs to influence the behaviour of backend forms for plugins.

The existence of the list_type also made a separate layer of content element definitions in the TypoScript necessary.

Therefore the list_type complicates registration and configuration of plugins while it poses no advantages. Therefore it is recommended to always use the CType for new plugin types while the list_type is retained for now for backward compatibility.

If you are refactoring the plugins of your extension, for example while getting rid of switchable controller actions it is recommended to migrate your plugins to use the CType. You should then supply a upgrade wizard for easy migration for your users.