Creating AJAX endpoints for custom fieldtypes

Question

I'm working on a custom fieldtype that requires some validation via AJAX, which means I need an endpoint to direct my $.get() requests to. I know that accessories support process_x methods but fieldtypes don't appear to offer anything similar.

As far as I can see my options are to create a module (which otherwise I have no need for) or an extension (ditto, really). I noticed that the VZ URL fieldtype uses the sessions_start hook for this but that's not ideal as it's adding a little overhead to every single request, even frontend ones.

Is there a better, simpler option that I'm missing?

Answer 1

As far as i know, you cannot do this in a fieldtype in any other way. What i've seen most often is a accompanying module that registers an action so that the method in the module acts as the ajax endpoint.

That's not a huge amount of extra work thought is it really :)

I do fully appreciate what you're saying though, it's a shame it can't all be self contained in the fieldtype :(