A Beginner's Guide to HTML Templating with Handlebars and EJS

Introduction

In web development, templating engines are essential tools that help you create dynamic and reusable HTML content. Two of the most popular templating engines are Handlebars and EJS. In this guide, we will explore how both of these engines work, compare their features, and demonstrate how to use them in your projects.

What is HTML Templating?

HTML templating is the process of creating reusable and dynamic HTML structures by embedding variables and logic within HTML files. These templating engines allow developers to generate HTML content by using template files and JavaScript data objects. Instead of manually coding every part of your HTML structure, templating engines help automate the process.

By using templating engines like Handlebars and EJS, you can dynamically populate your views, reducing redundancy and making your web applications more efficient.

Understanding Handlebars

What is Handlebars?

Handlebars is a lightweight templating engine widely used in JavaScript applications. It helps you build dynamic HTML templates by separating your data from the structure of the HTML. Handlebars use curly braces ({{}}) for placeholders, making it easy to insert dynamic data into HTML.

Key Features of Handlebars

• Simple Syntax: Handlebars uses basic curly braces syntax for variables and logic.
• Logic Helpers: You can use helpers like if, each, and with for conditional logic and iteration.
• Partials: Handlebars allow the use of partial templates, making code reuse easier.

Example: Handlebars Template

<h1>{{title}}</h1>
<ul>
{{#each items}}
<li>{{this}}</li>
{{/each}}
</ul>


const template = Handlebars.compile(document.getElementById('template').innerHTML);
const data = {
title: "Shopping List",
items: ["Apples", "Bananas", "Oranges"]
};
document.getElementById('output').innerHTML = template(data);


What is EJS?

What is EJS?

Embedded JavaScript (EJS) is another popular templating engine that is easy to integrate with Node.js. EJS allows you to embed JavaScript code directly inside HTML files, making it perfect for generating dynamic HTML views on the server side.

Key Features of EJS

• JavaScript Inside HTML: EJS allows you to directly embed JavaScript logic inside HTML templates.
• Includes: You can include other EJS templates to create reusable components.
• Partial Views: Like Handlebars, EJS supports partial templates for better code organization.

Example: EJS Template

<h1><%= title %></h1>
<ul>
<% items.forEach(function(item){ %>
<li><%= item %></li>
<% }); %>
</ul>


app.get('/', (req, res) => {
res.render('index', {
title: 'Shopping List',
items: ['Apples', 'Bananas', 'Oranges']
});
});


When to Use Handlebars

Handlebars is ideal when you want to focus on simplicity and readability. It works well for static sites and simple applications where you need dynamic content but want to keep your templates clean and easy to maintain.

• Best for Static Websites: Easy to set up and maintain.
• Ideal for Data-Driven Websites: Use Handlebars to dynamically render data into predefined HTML structures.

When to Use EJS

EJS is a great choice for projects that need to embed more JavaScript logic inside their templates. It is flexible and perfect for server-side rendering in Node.js applications, especially if you're working with complex views.

• Best for Node.js Applications: Seamlessly integrates with Express.js and other Node.js frameworks.
• Great for Complex Logic: Use EJS when you need more control over the structure of your HTML.

Conclusion

Both Handlebars and EJS are powerful templating engines that can help you create dynamic web applications. Choosing between them depends on your project needs. Handlebars is simple and perfect for static sites, while EJS is more flexible and ideal for server-side rendering with Node.js.

If you're just starting with templating engines, both Handlebars and EJS provide great resources and documentation to help you master dynamic HTML creation. With these tools in your arsenal, you can streamline your development process and create more efficient web applications.