function render()
{
$readmoreLink = $this->getReadmoreLink();
$commentsLink = $this->getCommentsLink();

$hitsCount = '';

if ($this->getVar('show_hits', 0) == 1) {
$content = $this->getVar('content-item');


if (!isset($content->hits)) {
$db = JFactory::getDbo();
$db->setQuery('SELECT hits FROM #__content WHERE id = ' . (int) $content->id);
$cnt = (int) $db->loadResult();
} else {
$cnt = (int) $content->hits;
}

$hitsCount = JText::sprintf('ARTICLE_HITS', $cnt);
}

if ($readmoreLink != '' || $commentsLink != '') {
?>
<div class="jcomments-links"><?php echo $readmoreLink; ?> <?php echo $commentsLink; ?> <?php echo $hitsCount; ?></div>
<?php
}
}

/*
*
* Display Readmore link
*
*/
function getReadmoreLink()
{
if ($this->getVar('readmore_link_hidden', 0) == 1) {
return '';
}

$link = $this->getVar('link-readmore');
$text = $this->getVar('link-readmore-text');
$title = $this->getVar('link-readmore-title');
$css = $this->getVar('link-readmore-class');

return '<a class="'.$css.'" href="'.$link.'" title="'.htmlspecialchars($title).'">'.$text.'</a>';
}

/*
*
* Display Comments or Add comments link
*
*/
function getCommentsLink()
{
if ($this->getVar('comments_link_hidden') == 1) {
return '';
}

$style = $this->getVar('comments_link_style');
$count = $this->getVar('comments-count');
$link = $this->getVar('link-comment');
$text = $this->getVar('link-comment-text');
$css = $this->getVar('link-comments-class');

switch($style) {
case -1:
return $count > 0 ? '<span class="'.$css.'">'.$text.'</span>' : '';
break;
default:
return '<a class="'.$css.'" href="'.$link.'" title="'.htmlspecialchars($text).'">'.$text.'</a>';
break;
}
}
}

Миледи, буду очень благодарен

Миледи, можно подробнее пожалуйста

->
объясните подробнее

$db->setQuery('SELECT hits FROM #__content WHERE id = ' . (int) $content->id);


$db->


-> это что такое? это присваивание? ->