Naming Conventions {#plugins.naming.conventions}

Plugin files and functions must follow a very specific naming convention in order to be located by Smarty.

plugin files must be named as follows:

> ` > type.name.php > `

• Where `type` is one of these plugin types:

  - function

  - modifier

  - block

  - compiler

  - prefilter

  - postfilter

  - outputfilter

  - resource

  - insert

• And `name` should be a valid identifier; letters, numbers, and underscores only, see php variables.
• Some examples: `function.html_select_date.php`, `resource.db.php`, `modifier.spacify.php`.

plugin functions inside the PHP files must be named as follows:

> smarty_type_name

• The meanings of `type` and `name` are the same as above.
• An example modifier name `foo` would be `function smarty_modifier_foo()`.

Smarty will output appropriate error messages if the plugin file it needs is not found, or if the file or the plugin function are named improperly.