Simple CakePHP captcha component for CakePHP 2.x

Here is the latest CakePHP Captcha component for CakePHP Version 2.x. Compatible up to CakePHP version 2.5.3.

NOTE:For best Image Captcha results this component requires GD and Freetype support enabled. Please check your phpinfo() to know whether your server supports this (See image below). Contact your hosting provider if any of these libraries is not enabled.

Online Demo
Download at Github

Update – Sep 25, 2013

§  Supports Image and Simple Math captcha

§  Works without GD Truetype font support (NOT RECOMMENDED though)

§  Default and Random themes for Image Captcha

§  Checks for missing font file

Updated on – Sep 19, 2013

§  Had been reported of issues related to missing font file so i have updated the controller function to detect the existence of font file. Dies with error on missing font file. So don’t forget to upload attached font file. If you wanted to use a different font upload it to webroot folder and change settings['font'] parameter

Updated on – April 12, 2013

§  Random captcha images are possible. Set “theme”=>”random” in $settings variable of CaptchaComponent.php or in Controller when loading captcha component.

§  Can’t Read? Reload is possible now. A working piece of jQuery code is included in view fileadd.ctp. Be sure to include jquery library, such ashttps://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.9.1/jquery.min.js to make Reloading of captcha working

How to make it working

Download attached zip file and extract. Copy all files placed in app folder to their corresponding locations.

I created “SignupsController” controller and Signup.php model for demonstration purpose. Create a function similar to the following in your controller.

function captcha() {

 $this->autoRender = false;

 $this->layout='ajax';

 if(!isset($this->Captcha)) { //if Component was not loaded through $components array()

 $this->Captcha = $this->Components->load('Captcha', array(

 'width' => 150,

 'height' => 50,

 'theme' => 'random', //possible values : default, random ; No value means 'default'

 )); //load it

 }

 $this->Captcha->create();

 }

Call the captcha action from within your form tag in the view file, as below:

echo $this->Session->flash();

echo $this->Form->create("Signups");

$this->Captcha->render($captchaSettings);

echo $this->Form->submit(__(' Submit ',true));

echo $this->Form->end();

And you are done! The captcha image should look like 

This component includes a model file i.e. Model/Signup.php file to demonstrate the use of model validation for captcha input by user. The validation works just like any other custom model validation in CakePHP.

Download at Github
Download Captcha Component for Cakephp 1.x