Static files fall back mechanism docs clarification

[Januszpl]

Topic clarification/correction request

Theme inheritance

Topic Link

https://devdocs.magento.com/guides/v2.2/frontend-dev-guide/themes/theme-inherit.html

Description

There is issue with docs about overriding static files.

Section "If module context is not defined for a file" seems correct but if "module context is defined for a file" seem it doesn't work (path nr 1) for case like:

<img src="<?= $block->getViewFileUrl('Magento_Catalog::images/product/placeholder/thumbnail4.jpg') ?>" />

<img src="<?= $block->getViewFileUrl('images/product/placeholder/thumbnail4.jpg') ?>" />
<img src="<?= $block->getViewFileUrl('images/product/placeholder/thumbnail2.jpg') ?>" />

If module context is not defined for a file (second and third image above) it properly looks for file in those paths:
<theme_dir>/web/i18n/
<theme_dir>/web/

However if we use "Magento_Catalog::" then it doesn't check/get a file from nr 1 option but only from nr 2

1. Current theme and current locale module static files:<theme_dir>/web/i18n//_
2. Current theme module static files <theme_dir>/_/web/. Example: app/design/frontend/OrangeCorp/orange/Magento_Catalog/web/

It's not big deal as usually people won't put there a files (at least images - didn't check for other types) but it should be fixed/clarified how it works in documention as now it seems to be wrong for this case.

If module context is not defined for a file:

Current theme static files for a specific locale (the locale set for the storefront): <theme_dir>/web/i18n/
Current theme static files: <theme_dir>/web/
Ancestor’s static files, recursively, until a theme with no parent is reached:
<parent_theme_dir>/web/i18n/
<parent_theme_dir>/web/
Library static view files: lib/web/
If module context is defined for a file:

Current theme and current locale module static files:<theme_dir>/web/i18n//
Current theme module static files <theme_dir>//web/. Example: app/design/frontend/OrangeCorp/orange/Magento_Catalog/web/
Ancestor themes module static files, recursively, until a theme with no ancestor is reached:
<parent_theme_dir>/web/i18n//
<parent_theme_dir>//web/
Module static view files for the frontend area: <module_dir>/view/frontend/web/
Module static view files for the base area: <module_dir>/view/base/web/

Possible solutions

Remove option 1 for module context is known or update/clarify it.

Additional information

[debuysserk]

What's the status on this item? Currently studying for front-end developer exam and was curious about the fallback with locales and like you, my tests showed option 1 for files with module context does NOT work. All the other options work alright.

Thanks for clarifyig the docs, or should M2 code be corrected?

[shrielenee]

@bdenham Any news? 📰

[Santoshziffity]

@magento I am working on this

[erikmarr]

@Santoshziffity Are you still working on this?

[BarnyShergold]

This issue was dealt with and fixed in Feb 2021 by @Santoshziffity so is being closed