cakephp: How to set checkbox to checked?

cmptrgeekken's solution works for a single checkbox. I'm assuming you're generating a multiple checkboxes, for a HABTM relation or something similar.

You need to pass a array with the values of the elements that are going to be selected to the method, like this:

$options = array(1 => 'ONE', 'TWO', 'THREE');
$selected = array(1, 3);
echo $form->input('Model.name', array('multiple' => 'checkbox', 'options' => $options, 'selected' => $selected));

is going to generate this:

 <div class="input select">
      <label for="ModelName">Name</label>
      <input name="data[Model][name]" value="" type="hidden">

      <div class="checkbox">
           <input name="data[Model][name][]" checked="checked" value="1" id="ModelName1" type="checkbox">
           <label for="ModelName1" class="selected">ONE</label>
      </div>
      <div class="checkbox">
           <input name="data[Model][name][]" value="2" id="ModelName2" type="checkbox">
           <label for="ModelName2">TWO</label>
      </div>
      <div class="checkbox">
           <input name="data[Model][name][]" checked="checked" value="3" id="ModelName3" type="checkbox">
           <label for="ModelName3" class="selected">THREE</label>
      </div>
 </div>

The first and third checkbox checked.

Just remember that you're actually working with a multiple select element that is just displayed as a bunch of checkboxes (Which is IMO better because of the usability).

I don't use CakePHP, but according to the docs, it appears as though you should be able to add the option 'checked'=>true:

$form->input('Model.name', array('type'=>'checkbox','checked'=>true));

since that's one of the options of the checkbox function.

$options = array(1 => 'ONE', 'TWO', 'THREE');
$selected = array(1, 3);
echo $form->input('Model.name', 
    array( 
        "name"=>$mnus['Aco']['id'],
        "type"=>"select",
        "multiple"=>"checkbox", 
        'options' => $options, 
        'selected' => $selected)
    );

this is the correct way for multiple check box and checked option. I am using this in cake1.3 please recheck once on your code it must work.

Its Super Simple

$form->input('field_name', array('type'=>'checkbox','checked'=>true));

That's it.

Documentation: https://book.cakephp.org/3.0/en/views/helpers/form.html

Another way to have a checkbox checked with the "label" right next to it is.

$form->checkbox('Model.name', array('checked'=>'checked'))?> Label 

Label can be what ever you want though. example: 21,000-3000, Tire, Human. I am sure you get the idea.

You can also try this for input with single option

$this->Form->input('name', array('type' => 'checkbox', 'default' => 1, 'checked' => 'checked'));