what is template engine in express
A template engine in Express is a module that facilitates the generation of dynamic HTML content by embedding dynamic data into static templates. The following steps outline the process of using a template engine in Express:
Install a Template Engine Module: Install the desired template engine module using npm. Popular choices include "ejs," "pug," and "handlebars."
bash npm install ejs
Set Up Express to Use the Template Engine: Configure Express to use the installed template engine. This involves requiring the module and setting it as the view engine. ```javascript const express = require('express'); const app = express();
app.set('view engine', 'ejs'); ```
- Create Template Files: Create template files with the appropriate file extension (e.g., ".ejs"). These files contain HTML code with embedded placeholders for dynamic data. ```html
Welcome to <%= appName %>
```
Render Templates in Routes: In Express routes, use the
render
method to render the specified template and pass dynamic data to it.javascript app.get('/', (req, res) => { res.render('index', { pageTitle: 'Home', appName: 'MyApp' }); });
Dynamic Data in Templates: Within templates, dynamic data is embedded using template engine-specific syntax. For example, in EJS,
<%= variable %>
is used to embed a variable's value. ```htmlWelcome to <%= appName %>
```
- Response to the Client:
The rendered HTML, containing the dynamically generated content, is sent as the response to the client.
```html
Home Welcome to MyApp
```
By following these steps, dynamic content can be easily generated and served in response to client requests using template engines in Express.