<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
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<sect1 id="zend.layout.introduction">
    <title>Introduction</title>

    <para>
        <classname>Zend_Layout</classname> implements a classic Two Step View pattern,
        allowing developers to wrap application content within another view,
        usually representing the site template. Such templates are often termed
        <emphasis>layouts</emphasis> by other projects, and Zend Framework has
        adopted this term for consistency.
    </para>

    <para>
        The main goals of <classname>Zend_Layout</classname> are as follows:
    </para>

    <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
            <para>
                Automate selection and rendering of layouts when used with the
                Zend Framework <acronym>MVC</acronym> components.
            </para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
            <para>
                Provide separate scope for layout related variables and content.
            </para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
            <para>
                Allow configuration, including layout name, layout script
                resolution (inflection), and layout script path.
            </para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
            <para>
                Allow disabling layouts, changing layout scripts, and other
                states; allow these actions from within action controllers and
                view scripts.
            </para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
            <para>
                Follow same script resolution rules (inflection) as the <link
                linkend="zend.controller.actionhelpers.viewrenderer">ViewRenderer</link>,
                but allow them to also use different rules.
            </para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
            <para>
                Allow usage without Zend Framework <acronym>MVC</acronym> components.
            </para>
        </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
</sect1>
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