Question 1

How does Handlebars compare to EJS for Node.js templates?

Accepted Answer

Handlebars offers a cleaner, logic-less syntax with Mustache compatibility, while EJS allows embedded JavaScript for more imperative logic. Handlebars is better for separation of concerns, but EJS might suit teams wanting direct JS execution in templates.

Question 2

Can I use Handlebars with React or Vue?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but it's not idiomatic. Handlebars can generate static HTML for these frameworks, but React uses JSX and Vue has its own templating. It's better for server-side rendering or static parts rather than dynamic components.

Question 3

How to precompile Handlebars templates for a webpack build?

Accepted Answer

Use the handlebars-loader package for webpack. Configure it in your webpack config to compile templates at build time, which improves runtime performance by reducing compilation overhead in production.

Question 4

What are custom helpers and how do I create them?

Accepted Answer

Custom helpers are functions that extend template functionality, like formatting or conditional logic. Register them using Handlebars.registerHelper(), and they can be invoked within templates using {{helperName}} syntax.

Question 5

Is Handlebars good for building single-page applications?

Accepted Answer

Not primarily. Handlebars lacks built-in reactivity and state management, so for SPAs with frequent updates, frameworks like React or Angular are better. It can be used for static template generation in such apps.

Question 6

How to migrate from Mustache to Handlebars without issues?

Accepted Answer

Since Handlebars is largely compatible, swap templates directly and enable the compat flag if recursive lookup is needed. Test for syntax differences like block expressions and adjust helpers accordingly.

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