Pretend you have a report that does a bunch of calculations and data query finagling and now you need to show it. How do you like to get that data back?

array.php

<?php

/**
 * Send a data array back like an animal
 */

// Send an array back from the report
$data_array = $report->getAllTheData();

// Display the data and the totals
$data = $data_array['data'];
$totals = $data_array['totals'];

// Display the data from the array

separate_calls.php

<?php

/**
 * Make separate calls to a reporting object
 */

$data = $report->getData();
$totals = $report->getTotals($data_for_thing);

// Display the data and the totals in a View, PDF, or CSV

value_object.php

<?php

/**
 * Send back a value object from the report
 */

// Send another friggin object back from the report
// The report object returns up the value object
$value_object = $report->getAllTheData();

// Display the data and the totals
$data = $value_object->getData();
$totals = $value_object->getTotals();

// Display the data