How do I use JavaScript Templates with Node.js?

Install via npm (blueimp-tmpl), require the module, and override tmpl.load to read template files. The README provides a full server example with HTTP response rendering.

JavaScript Templates vs Handlebars: which is better?

JavaScript Templates is lighter and faster with zero dependencies, but Handlebars offers a more declarative syntax and richer helpers. Choose based on whether you prioritize minimalism or expressive templates.

How can I precompile templates for better performance?

Use the included Node.js tool (tmpl.js) to compile templates into optimized JavaScript code. Run it via command line, and it outputs a combined file with cached templates for faster rendering.

Is JavaScript Templates safe from XSS attacks?

Yes, by default it escapes HTML special characters with tmpl.encode, but you can customize encoding via tmpl.encReg and tmpl.encMap. Always use interpolation ({%=...%}) for untrusted data.

How to include one template inside another?

Use the include() helper function within templates, passing the template id and data object. The API section shows how to define and use helper variables for this purpose.

Can I change the data parameter from 'o' to something else?

Yes, override tmpl.arg to rename the parameter. For example, set tmpl.arg = 'data' to use {%=data.title%} instead, as documented in the template function argument section.

Open-Awesome

JavaScript-Templates

MITJavaScript

A 1KB lightweight, fast, and powerful JavaScript templating engine with zero dependencies for client and server-side rendering.

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1.7k stars644 forks0 contributors

What is JavaScript-Templates?

JavaScript Templates is a lightweight templating engine that enables dynamic HTML generation by embedding data into templates using a simple syntax. It solves the problem of efficiently rendering UI components or server-side pages without the overhead of larger frameworks. The engine is designed for performance and minimalism, making it suitable for projects where bundle size and speed are priorities.

Target Audience

Frontend and full-stack JavaScript developers who need a fast, dependency-free templating solution for client-side or Node.js applications. It's ideal for projects requiring simple HTML generation without the complexity of a full UI framework.

Value Proposition

Developers choose JavaScript Templates for its exceptional combination of tiny size (1KB), high performance, and zero dependencies. It offers a clean, intuitive syntax with features like caching and precompilation, providing a robust templating solution without the bloat of alternatives.

Overview

1KB lightweight, fast & powerful JavaScript templating engine with zero dependencies. Compatible with server-side environments like node.js, module loaders like RequireJS and all web browsers.

Use Cases

Best For

Adding simple dynamic content to static websites without a heavy framework
Generating HTML emails or reports in Node.js applications
Building lightweight JavaScript widgets or components with minimal overhead
Prototyping or small projects where bundle size is a critical constraint
Server-side rendering of HTML pages in Node.js with custom templates
Educational projects to understand templating engine fundamentals

Not Ideal For

Projects requiring built-in state management and reactive UI updates, like single-page applications
Teams that prefer modern JSX-based syntax or integrated component frameworks like React or Vue
Applications needing advanced developer tooling such as hot-reload or visual debuggers
Environments where templates must be written in a declarative language like Handlebars or Pug without embedded JavaScript

Pros & Cons

Pros

Minimal Footprint

At only 1KB minified with zero dependencies, it ensures fast load times and negligible bundle size, ideal for performance-critical projects.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Runs identically in all web browsers and Node.js, allowing seamless client and server-side templating without environment-specific code.

Flexible Templating Syntax

Supports interpolation, evaluation, loops, conditionals, and includes with custom tags, enabling complex logic directly in templates as shown in the syntax examples.

Built-in Security Features

Automatic HTML escaping via tmpl.encode prevents XSS vulnerabilities, and the encoding behavior can be customized for specific needs.

Cons

Non-Standard Syntax

Uses custom {% %} tags with embedded JavaScript, which can be less readable and more error-prone compared to modern alternatives like JSX or Handlebars.

Manual Configuration Overhead

Setting up helper variables, custom encoding, or server-side loading requires overriding internal functions like tmpl.load, adding complexity for basic tasks.

Sparse Ecosystem

Lacks community plugins, extensive documentation, or integrated tooling, limiting extensibility and support compared to larger templating libraries.

Frequently Asked Questions

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