+++
title = "Layouts"
linkTitle = "Templates Layouts"
[menu.main]
parent = "templates"
weight = 5
+++
The `layout()` function allows you to define a layout template that a template will implement. It's like having separate header and footer templates in one file.
## Define a layout
The `layout()` function can be called anywhere in a template, since the layout template is actually rendered second. Typically it's placed at the top of the file.
~~~ php
<?php $this->layout('template') ?>
<h1>User Profile</h1>
<p>Hello, <?=$this->e($name)?></p>
~~~
This function also works with [folders]({{< relref "engine/folders.md" >}}):
~~~ php
<?php $this->layout('shared::template') ?>
~~~
## Assign data
To assign data (variables) to a layout template, pass them as an array to the `layout()` function. This data will then be available as locally scoped variables within the layout template.
~~~ php
<?php $this->layout('template', ['title' => 'User Profile']) ?>
~~~
## Accessing the content
To access the rendered template content within the layout, use the `section()` function, passing `'content'` as the section name. This will return all outputted content from the template that hasn't been defined in a [section]({{< relref "templates/sections.md" >}}).
~~~ php
<html>
<head>
<title><?=$this->e($title)?></title>
</head>
<body>
<?=$this->section('content')?>
</body>
</html>
~~~
## Stacked layouts
Plates allows stacking of layouts, allowing even further simplification and organization of templates. Instead of just using one main layout, it's possible to break templates into more specific layouts, which themselves implement a main layout. Consider this example:
### The main site layout
{{< code-filename template.php >}}
~~~ php
<html>
<head>
<title><?=$this->e($title)?></title>
</head>
<body>
<?=$this->section('content')?>
</body>
</html>
~~~
### The blog layout
{{< code-filename blog.php >}}
~~~ php
<?php $this->layout('template', ['title' => $title]) ?>
<h1>The Blog</h1>
<section>
<article>
<?=$this->section('content')?>
</article>
<aside>
<?=$this->insert('blog/sidebar')?>
</aside>
</section>
~~~
### A blog article
{{< code-filename blog-article.php >}}
~~~ php
<?php $this->layout('blog', ['title' => $article->title]) ?>
<h2><?=$this->e($article->title)?></h2>
<article>
<?=$this->e($article->content)?>
</article>
~~~