Introduction

Motivation:

Defining “Content Elements” in TYPO3 can be hard and the learning curve is steep. You need to learn PHP, TCA, TypoScript and Fluid and maybe other languages.

Therefore, this API provides an easy and reliable way to register content blocks. A content block is defined as a small chunk of information, which is connected to a view and then rendered in the TYPO3 frontend.

The configuration of a content block is reduced and simplified via abstraction and convention. A content block is configured as a reusable standalone composer package, that needs all its dependencies to be defined. This idea is heavily inspired by the web components approach, even if here it is done on a different level.

Storage of content block in the TYPO3 directory structure

Because each content block is described in a separate composer package, they must define their type property as typo3-cms-contentblock. TYPO3 then uses a custom composer installer to place these packages in a dedicated location.

To separate the working directories for “classic extensions” (plugins, …), usual libraries and content blocks, the target folder is typo3conf/contentBlocks/. This is also compatible with the local package repository approach you would normally use if you ship packages, which are very specific to a single project.

Positive side effects of this approach

  • You can render the content blocks without having a complete TYPO3 installed yet.
  • You may reuse the content blocks in other projects.
  • You can define review rules in common VCS so that the frontend engineers are notified for changes.

Further information