Template Functions void smarty_function_name array $params object &$smarty All attributes passed to template functions from the template are contained in the $params as an associative array. The output (return value) of the function will be substituted in place of the function tag in the template (fetch function, for example). Alternatively, the function can simply perform some other task without any output (assign function). If the function needs to assign some variables to the template or use some other Smarty-provided functionality, it can use the supplied $smarty object to do so. See also: register_function(), unregister_function(). function plugin with output ]]> which can be used in the template as: Question: Will we ever have time travel? Answer: {eightball}. function plugin without output trigger_error("assign: missing 'var' parameter"); return; } if (!in_array('value', array_keys($params))) { $smarty->trigger_error("assign: missing 'value' parameter"); return; } $smarty->assign($params['var'], $params['value']); } ?> ]]>