Lodash _.template() Method

Syntax, Parameter and Return Value

Syntax:

 _.template([string=''], [options={}])

Parameters:

• [string=''] (string): The template string.
   
• [options={}] (Object): The options object.

Return Value:

 (Function) - Returns the compiled template function.

Examples 

Basic Template Compilation and Usage:

• JavaScript

JavaScript

var _ = require('lodash');

var compiled = _.template('Hello <%= user %>!');

console.log(compiled({ 'user': 'Fred' })); 

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Output: 

'Hello Fred!'

Demonstrates compiling a basic template and injecting a variable.

Using Template with HTML:

• JavaScript

JavaScript

var templateString = '<h1><%= title %></h1><p><%= message %></p>';

var compiledHtml = _.template(templateString);

var html = compiledHtml({ title: 'Important', message: 'This is a message' });

console.log(html); 

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Output:

 '<h1>Important</h1><p>This is a message</p>'

Shows compiling an HTML template and injecting multiple variables.

Executing JavaScript Code in Templates:

• JavaScript

JavaScript

var compiled = _.template('<% _.forEach(users, function(user) { %><li><%= user %></li><% }); %>');

var userList = compiled({ 'users': ['Fred', 'Barney'] });

console.log(userList);

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Output: 

'<li>Fred</li><li>Barney</li>'

An example of using a forEach loop within a template to generate a list of users.

Customizing Delimiters:

• JavaScript

JavaScript

var customCompiled = _.template('Hello {{ user }}!', { 'interpolate': /{{([\s\S]+?)}}/g });

console.log(customCompiled({ 'user': 'Ted' })); 

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Output:

 'Hello Ted!'

Demonstrates customizing the interpolation delimiters in a template.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does _.template() differ from other templating engines?

_.template() is a part of Lodash, which means it integrates seamlessly with other Lodash functionalities. It offers simplicity and ease of use, particularly for smaller-scale templating needs, compared to more complex templating engines.

Can _.template() handle complex logic inside templates?

Yes, _.template() can execute complex JavaScript logic within templates, but it's recommended to keep the logic within templates simple for maintainability.

Is it safe to use _.template() with user-provided data?

When using user-provided data, it's important to sanitize and escape the data to prevent injection attacks, especially in web applications.

Conclusion

Lodash's _.template() method is an effective tool for generating dynamic strings from templates, offering the flexibility to interpolate data and execute JavaScript within string templates. It's useful for a wide range of scenarios, from web development to automated messaging systems.

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