HTML template tag
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HTML <template> Tag


Example

The template element holds HTML code without displaying it:

<template>
  <h2>Flower</h2>
  <img src="img_white_flower.jpg">
</template>
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Definition and Usage

The <template> tag holds its content hidden from the client.

Content inside a <template> tag will not be rendered.

The content can be visible and rendered later by using JavaScript.

Use the <template> tag when you have HTML code you want to use over and over again, but not until you ask for it. To do this without the <template> tag, you have to create the HTML code with JavaScript to prevent the browser from rendering the code.


Browser Support

Element
<template> 26.0 13.0 22.0 9 15.0

Differences Between HTML 4.01 and HTML5

The <template> tag is new in HTML5.


Global Attributes

The <template> tag supports the Global Attributes in HTML.


More Examples

Example

Use JavaScript to get the content from a template, and add it to the page:

function showContent() {
  var temp = document.getElementsByTagName("template")[0];
  var clon = temp.content.cloneNode(true);
  document.body.appendChild(clon);
}
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Example

Use the content of a template for each item in an array:

<template>
  <div class="myClass">I like: </div>
</template>

<script>
var myArr = ["Audi", "BMW", "Ford", "Honda", "Jaguar", "Nissan"];

function showContent() {
  var temp, item, a, i;
  //get the template element:
  temp = document.getElementsByTagName("template")[0];
  //get the DIV element from the template:
  item = temp.content.querySelector("div");
  //for each item in the array:
  for (i = 0; i < myArr.length; i++) {
    //Create a new node, based on the template:
    a = document.importNode(item, true);
    //Add data from the array:
    a.textContent += myArr[i];
    //append the new node wherever you like:
    document.body.appendChild(a);
  }
}
</script>
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Example

Test browser support for the template element::

if (document.createElement("template").content) {
  /*Code for browsers that supports the TEMPLATE element*/
} else {
  /*Alternative code for browsers that do not support the TEMPLATE element*/
}
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