LCHH architecture
The Loader–Content–Handler–Handler, or "LCHH", is a web programming architecture that is closely modeled after the HTTP request-response cycle and the 3-tier web structure.
As its name suggests, LCHH defines four key implementation components:
- The Loader is an ID'ed DIV container that identifies a partial update region for later content injection;
- The Content that contains both static information and interactive elements, also known as "Triggers";
- Client-side Handlers that process various trigger events, such as button clicks;
- Server-side Handlers that respond to Ajax requests that are sent by the client-side handlers. Server-side handlers typically perform database CRUD operations before piggy-backing the updated content into the aforementioned Loader.
Comparison with XHR injection
LCHH uses the responseText of an XMLHttpRequest to replace theinnerHTML value of the target DIV container. This is a common Ajax pattern. XHR injection alone, however, does not sum up LCHH. The "Content" in the initial loading of LCHH is instantly generated on the server-side as opposed to loading an empty container and then populating the container with another Ajax round-trip. Piggy-backing renewed content after database changes is also characteristic of LCHH.LCHH organizes code into four categories:
- Loader and client-side Handlers are stored in a "user-facing" file that is directly accessible by its URL;
- A server-side script that can be included by the user-facing file. This script outputs the "Content";
- A "routing script" that serves as a single point of call for invoking various Ajax calls;
- Server-side handlers, typically stored under an "include" or "icl" sub-directory. Each handler is often implemented in a separate script file.
Example
echo "
\n";
require_once "icl/listcontacts.inc.php";
echo "
\n";require_once "icl/listcontacts.inc.php";
echo "
// client-side handlers
async function delete_contact