HTML template Tag

Posted in HTML Tutorial

Updated on Feb 10, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 23 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 1 Comment

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

In the dynamic landscape of web development, the <template> tag stands as a powerful tool for encapsulating reusable content.

This guide aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the HTML <template> tag and how to harness its potential.

🤔 What is <template> Tag?

The <template> tag is an HTML element that allows you to declare fragments of markup that can be cloned and inserted into the document later through JavaScript. It serves as a hidden container for holding client-side content that remains inert until activated.

💡 Syntax

To employ the <template> tag, use the opening <template> tag followed by your content and close it with the </template> tag.

syntax.html

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<template>
  <!-- Your reusable content here -->
</template>

🧰 Attributes

The <template> tag supports the id attribute, allowing you to uniquely identify a template for later reference in your JavaScript.

attributes.html

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<template id="myTemplate">
  <!-- Your template content here -->
</template>

▶️ Activation via JavaScript

The true power of the <template> tag comes to life when activated through JavaScript. The content inside a <template> tag can be cloned and inserted into the document as needed.

activation.html

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<script>
// JavaScript code to activate the template
const template = document.querySelector('template');
const clone = document.importNode(template.content, true);
document.body.appendChild(clone);
</script>

📚 Common Use Cases

Reusable Components:

The <template> tag is ideal for defining reusable components or fragments of content that you can easily clone and insert where needed.
reusable-components.html
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```
<template>
  <div class="card">
    <h2>Title</h2>
    <p>Description goes here.</p>
  </div>
</template>
```
Conditional Content:

Use the <template> tag to store content that may be conditionally added to the document based on user interactions or other dynamic factors.
conditional-content.html
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```
<template id="conditionalContent">
  <p>This content appears conditionally.</p>
</template>
```

🖥️ Browser Support

Understanding the compatibility of the <template> tag across different browsers is essential for delivering a consistent user experience. Here's an overview of its support:

Google Chrome: Fully supported.
Mozilla Firefox: Fully supported.
Microsoft Edge: Fully supported.
Safari: Fully supported.
Opera: Fully supported.
Internet Explorer: Partial support (version 11 and later).

Ensure you test your code in various browsers to guarantee a seamless experience for your audience.

🏆 Best Practices

Inert Content: Keep in mind that content within a <template> tag is inert by default, meaning it won't be rendered until activated.
Script Type: If you include scripts inside a <template>, use the type="text/html" attribute to prevent browsers from executing them.

🎉 Conclusion

The <template> tag is a valuable asset in a developer's toolkit, offering a clean and efficient way to manage reusable content in web applications. By mastering its implementation, you can enhance code maintainability and improve the overall user experience.