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get_language()

public function get_language(): string

Description

Retrieves the current application language. Checks multiple sources in order of priority:

  1. Session – $_SESSION['app_lang'] (set via set_language())
  2. Cookie – $_COOKIE['app_lang'] (persistent across browser sessions)
  3. Constant – APP_LANG constant (if defined in config)
  4. Default – Falls back to 'en' (English)

This method is used internally by load() to determine which translation file to load.

Parameters

This method accepts no parameters.

Return Value

Type Description
string The current language code (e.g., 'en', 'fr', 'es').

Example Usage

PHP
// Get current language
$current_lang = $this->language->get_language();
echo "Current language: " . $current_lang;

// Conditionally load content based on language
if ($this->language->get_language() === 'fr') {
    // Load French content
    $data['welcome'] = 'Bienvenue';
} else {
    // Load English content
    $data['welcome'] = 'Welcome';
}

// Use in validation error loading
$lang = $this->language->get_language();
$errors = $this->language->load("modules/validation/language/{$lang}/validation_errors.php");

Notes

  • The default language is 'en' (English).
  • To define a global default, set the APP_LANG constant in your configuration.
  • Session takes precedence over cookie, which allows users to temporarily override their saved language.