How do I enable PHP in the template files?

We strongly recommend using CubeCart’s hooks and plugin system instead of embedding PHP directly in template files. Plugins keep your customisations modular, upgrade-safe, and easy to maintain.

The Recommended Approach: Plugins

Create a plugin that performs your PHP logic and passes the result to the template:

// In your plugin's hook file:
$GLOBALS['smarty']->assign('MY_CUSTOM_DATA', $myValue);

Then in your template:

{$MY_CUSTOM_DATA}

See our guides on creating plugins with the hooks system and creating custom front-end pages.

If You Must Use PHP in Templates

Smarty does provide a {php} tag, but it is deprecated and discouraged. Consult the Smarty documentation if absolutely necessary. Be aware that this approach:

• May break during CubeCart or Smarty upgrades
• Makes your templates harder to maintain
• Can introduce security vulnerabilities if not done carefully