# pw-page-classes

> ProcessWire custom page classes — extending the Page class with template-specific logic. Use when creating, editing, or working with custom page classes in ProcessWire, or when the user mentions page classes, typed pages, or template-specific PHP classes.

- Author: gebeer
- Repository: gebeer/processwire-ai-docs
- Version: 20260207123945
- Stars: 3
- Forks: 0
- Last Updated: 2026-02-07
- Source: https://github.com/gebeer/processwire-ai-docs
- Web: https://mule.run/skillshub/@@gebeer/processwire-ai-docs~pw-page-classes:20260207123945

---

---
name: pw-page-classes
description: ProcessWire custom page classes — extending the Page class with template-specific logic. Use when creating, editing, or working with custom page classes in ProcessWire, or when the user mentions page classes, typed pages, or template-specific PHP classes.
---

# ProcessWire Custom Page Classes

Custom page classes let you extend ProcessWire's `Page` with template-specific methods and properties. Every page using a given template becomes an instance of your custom class.

## Quick Setup

1. Enable in `/site/config.php`:
```php
$config->usePageClasses = true;
```

2. Create class in `/site/classes/` matching the template name:

| Template | Class | File |
|----------|-------|------|
| `home` | `HomePage` | `HomePage.php` |
| `blog-post` | `BlogPostPage` | `BlogPostPage.php` |
| `basic-page` | `BasicPagePage` | `BasicPagePage.php` |

**Rule:** PascalCase the template name + append `Page`.

3. Minimal class:
```php
<?php namespace ProcessWire;
class HomePage extends Page {}
```

## Essential Pattern — Custom Properties via `get()`

```php
public function get($key) {
    if($key === 'authorName') return $this->getAuthorName();
    return parent::get($key);
}
```

This makes `$page->authorName` work as a virtual property.

## API Access Inside Classes

```php
// Correct — always use wire()
$this->wire()->pages->find('template=blog-post');
$this->wire('sanitizer')->text($value);

// WRONG — does not work inside page classes
$this->pages;
```

## Property Access Gotcha

Inside the class, `$this->property` accesses the property directly, bypassing the `get()` method's lazy loading. For example, `$this->template` may return `null`, while `$page->template` (external) returns a `Template` object. Use `$this->get('property')` for consistent behavior.

## Reference Files

- [Setup and naming conventions](setup-and-naming.md) — config options, naming rules, directory structure
- [Core patterns](core-patterns.md) — methods, PHPDoc, output formatting, admin labels
- [Inheritance and code reuse](inheritance-and-reuse.md) — inheritance, abstract classes, interfaces, traits
- [Advanced features](advanced-features.md) — helper classes, hookable methods, repeaters, DefaultPage, field classes
- [Best practices](best-practices.md) — do's, don'ts, common pitfalls
- [Complete examples](examples.md) — full working class implementations