Backend Module API

Registering new modules

Modules added by extensions are registered in the ext_tables.php using the following API:

if (TYPO3_MODE === 'BE') {
    // Module System > Backend Users
    \TYPO3\CMS\Extbase\Utility\ExtensionUtility::registerModule(
        'TYPO3.CMS.Beuser',
        'system',
        'tx_Beuser',
        'top',
        array(
            'BackendUser' => 'index, addToCompareList, removeFromCompareList, compare, online, terminateBackendUserSession',
            'BackendUserGroup' => 'index'
        ),
        array(
            'access' => 'admin',
            'icon' => 'EXT:beuser/Resources/Public/Icons/module-beuser.svg',
            'labels' => 'LLL:EXT:beuser/Resources/Private/Language/locallang_mod.xlf'
        )
    );
}

Here the module is declared as being a submodule of main module “system” and it should be placed at the “top” of that main module, if possible (if several modules are declared at the same position, the last one wins).

The last array contains important information: the module is accessible only to “Admin” users. It also contains pointers to its icon and the language file containing its title and description, for building the module menu and for the display of information in the About Modules module (found in the main help menu in the top bar).

$TBE_MODULES

When modules are registered, they get added to a global array called $GLOBALS['TBE_MODULES']. It contains the list of all registered modules, their configuration and the configuration of any existing navigation component (the components which may be loaded into the navigation frame).

$GLOBALS['TBE_MODULES'] can be explored using the SYSTEM > Configuration module.

The list of modules is parsed by the class \TYPO3\CMS\Backend\Module\ModuleLoader.