Skill: Data widgets

Read the bundled conventions before applying this skill.

Decisions that affect behavior

• Choose the provider matching the actual data source: ActiveDataProvider for a query, SqlDataProvider for SQL plus a correct count, ArrayDataProvider for an in-memory collection. Preserve existing lazy loading and key semantics rather than materializing all records to fix a display issue.
• Configure sortable/filterable attributes explicitly when input can select columns. Filtering, sort parameters, model validation, and pagination are separate operations. Preserve parameter names and unique widget/provider IDs when several lists share one page.
• Define deterministic ordering when stable pages matter. Count the same logical result the widget displays, including joins, grouping, and UNION. Yii 22.0 ActiveDataProvider applies global UNION sorting/pagination with the explicit union modifiers; avoid accidentally applying limits only to the first SELECT.
• Preserve stable row keys for selections/actions, including composite keys where applicable. Hide or disable actions according to the UI contract, while keeping server authorization in the action itself; an invisible button is not protection.
• Core widget Bootstrap defaults are removed. Keep explicit classes or the current UI extension, formats, labels, empty state, and accessibility structure. ActionColumn’s unknown-icon fallback is a text span. Text/raw/HTML formatting have different escaping behavior; do not mark user data raw to restore markup.
• Grid/selection client behavior uses configured clientScript strategies. Server HTML alone does not establish filter or selection behavior. Preserve an existing jQuery or custom integration without adding a new frontend stack.

Observable acceptance

Use a representative dataset to verify displayed records, total count, stable ordering, page boundaries, row keys, and permitted sort/filter parameters. Verify rendered text encoding and the relevant action URLs. Exercise the configured browser behavior for changed filters/selections, including multiple widgets when IDs or parameter names changed. Check relevant styling in the existing UI system.

Evidence routes

Read framework/data/{ActiveDataProvider,SqlDataProvider,ArrayDataProvider,Pagination,Sort}.php, framework/grid/{GridView,DataColumn,ActionColumn,CheckboxColumn}.php, and framework/widgets/{ListView,DetailView,LinkPager}.php. Tests: tests/framework/data/, tests/framework/grid/, tests/framework/widgets/{ListViewTest,DetailViewTest,LinkPagerTest}.php, and tests/framework/db/sqlite/ActiveDataProviderTest.php (plus the actual driver). Guides: output-data-providers, output-data-widgets, output-pagination, output-sorting.

Install and activate this skill

Select yii2-data-widgets in the installation and client verification guide. Install the complete bundle, including referenced resources. The canonical SKILL.md is also available for direct reading.

Continue with the related framework guide.