<?php
//action in index controller

public function indexAction()
    {
        //create a variable in the index action to be passed to the view
        $this->view->varName = 'some text';
    }
?>

<!--html in index view-->

<h1>Welcome to the <span id="zf-name">Zend Framework!</span></h1>

<p>the value set in the controller for this view is <?php echo $this->varName; ?>.</p>