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Menu system in Drupal 7

Same name and namespace in other branches
  1. 8 core/lib/Drupal/Core/Menu/menu.api.php \menu
  2. 4 includes/menu.inc \menu
  3. 5 includes/menu.inc \menu
  4. 6 includes/menu.inc \menu
  5. 9 core/lib/Drupal/Core/Menu/menu.api.php \menu

Define the navigation menus, and route page requests to code based on URLs.

The Drupal menu system drives both the navigation system from a user perspective and the callback system that Drupal uses to respond to URLs passed from the browser. For this reason, a good understanding of the menu system is fundamental to the creation of complex modules. As a note, this is related to, but separate from menu.module, which allows menus (which in this context are hierarchical lists of links) to be customized from the Drupal administrative interface.

Drupal's menu system follows a simple hierarchy defined by paths. Implementations of hook_menu() define menu items and assign them to paths (which should be unique). The menu system aggregates these items and determines the menu hierarchy from the paths. For example, if the paths defined were a, a/b, e, a/b/c/d, f/g, and a/b/h, the menu system would form the structure:

  • a

    • a/b

      • a/b/c/d
      • a/b/h
  • e
  • f/g

Note that the number of elements in the path does not necessarily determine the depth of the menu item in the tree.

When responding to a page request, the menu system looks to see if the path requested by the browser is registered as a menu item with a callback. If not, the system searches up the menu tree for the most complete match with a callback it can find. If the path a/b/i is requested in the tree above, the callback for a/b would be used.

The found callback function is called with any arguments specified in the "page arguments" attribute of its menu item. The attribute must be an array. After these arguments, any remaining components of the path are appended as further arguments. In this way, the callback for a/b above could respond to a request for a/b/i differently than a request for a/b/j.

For an illustration of this process, see page_example.module.

Access to the callback functions is also protected by the menu system. The "access callback" with an optional "access arguments" of each menu item is called before the page callback proceeds. If this returns TRUE, then access is granted; if FALSE, then access is denied. Default local task menu items (see next paragraph) may omit this attribute to use the value provided by the parent item.

In the default Drupal interface, you will notice many links rendered as tabs. These are known in the menu system as "local tasks", and they are rendered as tabs by default, though other presentations are possible. Local tasks function just as other menu items in most respects. It is convention that the names of these tasks should be short verbs if possible. In addition, a "default" local task should be provided for each set. When visiting a local task's parent menu item, the default local task will be rendered as if it is selected; this provides for a normal tab user experience. This default task is special in that it links not to its provided path, but to its parent item's path instead. The default task's path is only used to place it appropriately in the menu hierarchy.

Everything described so far is stored in the menu_router table. The menu_links table holds the visible menu links. By default these are derived from the same hook_menu definitions, however you are free to add more with menu_link_save().

File

includes/menu.inc, line 8
API for the Drupal menu system.

Functions

Namesort descending Location Description
drupal_help_arg includes/menu.inc Generates elements for the $arg array in the help hook.
menu_build_tree includes/menu.inc Builds a menu tree, translates links, and checks access.
menu_cache_clear includes/menu.inc Clears the cached data for a single named menu.
menu_cache_clear_all includes/menu.inc Clears all cached menu data.
menu_contextual_links includes/menu.inc Retrieves contextual links for a path based on registered local tasks.
menu_delete_links includes/menu.inc Deletes all links for a menu.
menu_execute_active_handler includes/menu.inc Execute the page callback associated with the current path.
menu_get_active_breadcrumb includes/menu.inc Gets the breadcrumb for the current page, as determined by the active trail.
menu_get_active_help includes/menu.inc Returns the help associated with the active menu item.
menu_get_active_menu_names includes/menu.inc Gets the active menu for the current page.
menu_get_active_title includes/menu.inc Gets the title of the current page, as determined by the active trail.
menu_get_active_trail includes/menu.inc Gets the active trail (path to root menu root) of the current page.
menu_get_ancestors includes/menu.inc Returns the ancestors (and relevant placeholders) for any given path.
menu_get_custom_theme includes/menu.inc Gets the custom theme for the current page, if there is one.
menu_get_item includes/menu.inc Gets a router item.
menu_get_names includes/menu.inc Build a list of named menus.
menu_get_object includes/menu.inc Gets a loaded object from a router item.
menu_get_router includes/menu.inc Gets the menu router.
menu_links_clone includes/menu.inc Clones an array of menu links.
menu_link_children_relative_depth includes/menu.inc Finds the depth of an item's children relative to its depth.
menu_link_delete includes/menu.inc Delete one or several menu links.
menu_link_get_preferred includes/menu.inc Looks up the preferred menu link for a given system path.
menu_link_load includes/menu.inc Gets a translated, access-checked menu link that is ready for rendering.
menu_link_maintain includes/menu.inc Inserts, updates, or deletes an uncustomized menu link related to a module.
menu_link_save includes/menu.inc Saves a menu link.
menu_list_system_menus includes/menu.inc Returns an array containing the names of system-defined (default) menus.
menu_load_links includes/menu.inc Returns an array containing all links for a menu.
menu_local_actions includes/menu.inc Returns the rendered local actions at the current level.
menu_local_tabs includes/menu.inc Returns a renderable element for the primary and secondary tabs.
menu_local_tasks includes/menu.inc Collects the local tasks (tabs), action links, and the root path.
menu_main_menu includes/menu.inc Returns an array of links to be rendered as the Main menu.
menu_navigation_links includes/menu.inc Returns an array of links for a navigation menu.
menu_primary_local_tasks includes/menu.inc Returns the rendered local tasks at the top level.
menu_rebuild includes/menu.inc Populates the database tables used by various menu functions.
menu_reset_static_cache includes/menu.inc Resets the menu system static cache.
menu_router_build includes/menu.inc Collects and alters the menu definitions.
menu_secondary_local_tasks includes/menu.inc Returns the rendered local tasks at the second level.
menu_secondary_menu includes/menu.inc Returns an array of links to be rendered as the Secondary links.
menu_set_active_item includes/menu.inc Sets the active path, which determines which page is loaded.
menu_set_active_menu_names includes/menu.inc Sets (or gets) the active menu for the current page.
menu_set_active_trail includes/menu.inc Sets the active trail (path to the menu tree root) of the current page.
menu_set_custom_theme includes/menu.inc Sets a custom theme for the current page, if there is one.
menu_set_item includes/menu.inc Replaces the statically cached item for a given path.
menu_tab_root_path includes/menu.inc Returns the router path, or the path for a default local task's parent.
menu_tail_load includes/menu.inc Loads the path as one string relative to the current index.
menu_tail_to_arg includes/menu.inc Returns a string containing the path relative to the current index.
menu_tree includes/menu.inc Renders a menu tree based on the current path.
menu_tree_all_data includes/menu.inc Gets the data structure representing a named menu tree.
menu_tree_check_access includes/menu.inc Checks access and performs dynamic operations for each link in the tree.
menu_tree_collect_node_links includes/menu.inc Collects node links from a given menu tree recursively.
menu_tree_data includes/menu.inc Sorts and returns the built data representing a menu tree.
menu_tree_get_path includes/menu.inc Gets the path for determining the active trail of the specified menu tree.
menu_tree_output includes/menu.inc Returns an output structure for rendering a menu tree.
menu_tree_page_data includes/menu.inc Gets the data structure for a named menu tree, based on the current page.
menu_tree_set_path includes/menu.inc Sets the path for determining the active trail of the specified menu tree.
menu_unserialize includes/menu.inc Unserializes menu data, using a map to replace path elements.
template_preprocess_menu_tree includes/menu.inc Implements template_preprocess_HOOK() for theme_menu_tree().
theme_menu_link includes/menu.inc Returns HTML for a menu link and submenu.
theme_menu_local_action includes/menu.inc Returns HTML for a single local action link.
theme_menu_local_task includes/menu.inc Returns HTML for a single local task link.
theme_menu_local_tasks includes/menu.inc Returns HTML for primary and secondary local tasks.
theme_menu_tree includes/menu.inc Returns HTML for a wrapper for a menu sub-tree.
_menu_build_tree includes/menu.inc Builds a menu tree.
_menu_check_access includes/menu.inc Checks access to a menu item using the access callback.
_menu_check_rebuild includes/menu.inc Checks whether a menu_rebuild() is necessary.
_menu_clear_page_cache includes/menu.inc Clears the page and block caches at most twice per page load.
_menu_delete_item includes/menu.inc Deletes a single menu link.
_menu_find_router_path includes/menu.inc Finds the router path which will serve this path.
_menu_item_localize includes/menu.inc Localizes the router item title using t() or another callback.
_menu_link_build includes/menu.inc Builds a link from a router item.
_menu_link_find_parent includes/menu.inc Finds a possible parent for a given menu link.
_menu_link_map_translate includes/menu.inc Translates the path elements in the map using any to_arg helper function.
_menu_link_move_children includes/menu.inc Updates the children of a menu link that is being moved.
_menu_link_parents_set includes/menu.inc Sets the p1 through p9 values for a menu link being saved.
_menu_link_translate includes/menu.inc Provides menu link access control, translation, and argument handling.
_menu_load_objects includes/menu.inc Loads objects into the map as defined in the $item['load_functions'].
_menu_navigation_links_rebuild includes/menu.inc Builds menu links for the items in the menu router.
_menu_router_build includes/menu.inc Builds the router table based on the data from hook_menu().
_menu_router_cache includes/menu.inc Stores the menu router if we have it in memory.
_menu_router_save includes/menu.inc Saves data from menu_router_build() to the router table.
_menu_set_expanded_menus includes/menu.inc Updates a list of menus with expanded items.
_menu_site_is_offline includes/menu.inc Checks whether the site is in maintenance mode.
_menu_translate includes/menu.inc Handles dynamic path translation and menu access control.
_menu_tree_check_access includes/menu.inc Sorts the menu tree and recursively checks access for each item.
_menu_tree_data includes/menu.inc Builds the data representing a menu tree.
_menu_update_parental_status includes/menu.inc Checks and updates the 'has_children' status for the parent of a link.

Constants

Namesort descending Location Description
MENU_ACCESS_DENIED includes/menu.inc Menu status code -- Access denied.
MENU_CALLBACK includes/menu.inc Menu type -- A hidden, internal callback, typically used for API calls.
MENU_CONTEXT_INLINE includes/menu.inc Internal menu flag: Local task should be displayed inline.
MENU_CONTEXT_NONE includes/menu.inc Internal menu flag: Invisible local task.
MENU_CONTEXT_PAGE includes/menu.inc Internal menu flag: Local task should be displayed in page context.
MENU_CREATED_BY_ADMIN includes/menu.inc Internal menu flag -- menu item was created by administrator.
MENU_DEFAULT_LOCAL_TASK includes/menu.inc Menu type -- The "default" local task, which is initially active.
MENU_FOUND includes/menu.inc Internal menu status code -- Menu item was found.
MENU_IS_LOCAL_ACTION includes/menu.inc Internal menu flag -- menu item is a local action.
MENU_IS_LOCAL_TASK includes/menu.inc Internal menu flag -- menu item is a local task.
MENU_IS_ROOT includes/menu.inc Internal menu flag -- menu item is the root of the menu tree.
MENU_LINKS_TO_PARENT includes/menu.inc Internal menu flag -- menu item links back to its parent.
MENU_LOCAL_ACTION includes/menu.inc Menu type -- An action specific to the parent, usually rendered as a link.
MENU_LOCAL_TASK includes/menu.inc Menu type -- A task specific to the parent item, usually rendered as a tab.
MENU_MAX_DEPTH includes/menu.inc The maximum depth of a menu links tree - matches the number of p columns.
MENU_MAX_PARTS includes/menu.inc The maximum number of path elements for a menu callback
MENU_MODIFIED_BY_ADMIN includes/menu.inc Internal menu flag -- menu item can be modified by administrator.
MENU_NORMAL_ITEM includes/menu.inc Menu type -- A "normal" menu item that's shown in menu and breadcrumbs.
MENU_NOT_FOUND includes/menu.inc Menu status code -- Not found.
MENU_PREFERRED_LINK includes/menu.inc Reserved key to identify the most specific menu link for a given path.
MENU_SITE_OFFLINE includes/menu.inc Internal menu status code -- Menu item inaccessible because site is offline.
MENU_SITE_ONLINE includes/menu.inc Internal menu status code -- Everything is working fine.
MENU_SUGGESTED_ITEM includes/menu.inc Menu type -- A normal menu item, hidden until enabled by an administrator.
MENU_VISIBLE_IN_BREADCRUMB includes/menu.inc Internal menu flag -- menu item is visible in the breadcrumb.
MENU_VISIBLE_IN_TREE includes/menu.inc Internal menu flag -- menu item is visible in the menu tree.

Sub-Topics

Namesort descending Location Description
Menu context types includes/menu.inc Flags for use in the "context" attribute of menu router items.
Menu flags includes/menu.inc Flags for use in the "type" attribute of menu items.
Menu item types includes/menu.inc Definitions for various menu item types.
Menu status codes includes/menu.inc Status codes for menu callbacks.
Menu tree parameters includes/menu.inc Parameters for a menu tree.