authentication

like so:

class Def_nivel extends BaseController
{
  public function index()
  {
    if (isset($_SESSION['login_utiliz'])) {

      echo view('common/header');
      echo view('common/sidebar');
      echo view('definicoes_view/nivel');
      echo view('common/footer');
    } else {
      return redirect()->to(base_url('login'));
    }
  }

It can be. I usually make a function that checks if the user is logged in, in the BaseController.
Something like this: 

PHP Code:

class BaseController extends Controller
{
    /*
    All the default stuff in the base controller that comes with Codeigniter 4, like the comments and the
   initController function
    */
    protected function check_login(bool $kick = true, bool $show_404 = false)
    {
         if(isset($_SESSION['login_utiliz']) {
            return true;
         } else {
            if($kick) {
                header('Location: /login');
                exit();
            }

            if($show_404) {
                throw \CodeIgniter\Exceptions\PageNotFoundException::forPageNotFound();
            }

            return false;
         }
    } 


This way you can call this function from any controller, like admin, or users, or home or whatever - and you can set what you want be done from there - quick and easy. Maybe you want them kicked to login screen, or show them 404 if its a sensitive administrator only page.

While a Login controller, PHS was talking about, handles the actual logging in part, (and maybe it can also have registration and user delete and other user related methods) THIS little function handles the actual CHECKING of being logged in.

Now you can just write one line from any controller to perform a check. Like this:
class Def_nivel extends BaseController
{
  public function index()
  {
      $this->check_login();
      echo view('common/header');
      echo view('common/sidebar');
      echo view('definicoes_view/nivel');
      echo view('common/footer');
  }
}

Much cleaner

Thank you very much Leo that really helped.
I have followed your advise and sure enough now it works like a charm.
It is probably my lack of php knowledge in the first place.
I really appreciate the help, also thank you PHS.