🧾 Django Syntax – Core Template Syntax for Dynamic Web Pages (2025 Guide)
🧲 Introduction – What Is Django Syntax?
Django syntax refers to the special tags and expressions used in Django templates to embed logic and dynamic content in HTML pages. It uses a lightweight, readable syntax with {{ ... }} for variables and {% ... %} for logic and control flow.
🎯 In this guide, you’ll learn:
- The two main types of Django template syntax
- How to use variables, filters, and tags
- The purpose of comments and includes
- Best practices for writing clean, readable templates
🧱 Core Syntax Types
| Syntax | Usage Type | Example |
|---|---|---|
{{ ... }} | Output/Expression | {{ user.username }} |
{% ... %} | Logic/Control | {% if user.is_authenticated %} |
{# ... #} | Comment | {# This is a comment #} |
🧩 Example Template Structure
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>{{ title }}</title>
</head>
<body>
{% if user.is_authenticated %}
<p>Welcome, {{ user.username }}!</p>
{% else %}
<p>Welcome, guest!</p>
{% endif %}
{% for post in posts %}
<h2>{{ post.title }}</h2>
<p>{{ post.content|truncatewords:20 }}</p>
{% endfor %}
</body>
</html>
🔧 Common Template Tags
| Tag | Purpose |
|---|---|
{% if %} | Conditional logic |
{% for %} | Loop through a list |
{% block %} | Define overrideable sections |
{% extends %} | Inherit a base template |
{% include %} | Reuse partial templates |
{% load static %} | Load static files |
🔍 Common Template Filters
| Filter | Example | Result |
|---|---|---|
| `{{ name | lower }}` | “JOHN DOE” ➝ “john doe” |
| `{{ bio | linebreaks }}` | Adds <br> for newlines |
| `{{ price | floatformat:2 }}` | 10 ➝ 10.00 |
| `{{ items | length }}` | Show list count |
| `{{ date | date:”F j, Y” }}` | 2025-05-23 ➝ “May 23, 2025” |
🧠 Template Comments
Use {# #} for internal notes that won’t appear in the browser:
{# This loops through posts and renders each title #}
🖼️ Using Template Inheritance
base.html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head><title>{% block title %}My Site{% endblock %}</title></head>
<body>
{% block content %}{% endblock %}
</body>
</html>
home.html
{% extends "base.html" %}
{% block title %}Home Page{% endblock %}
{% block content %}
<h1>Welcome to the Home Page</h1>
{% endblock %}
✅ Best Practices
- ✅ Use
{% block %}and{% extends %}to maintain DRY code - ✅ Use
{{ variable|default:"N/A" }}to prevent empty outputs - ✅ Avoid business logic inside templates—keep it in views or context
- ✅ Keep comments
{# like this #}for clarity during development
📌 Summary – Recap & Next Steps
🔍 Key Takeaways:
{{ ... }}renders data,{% ... %}controls logic- Filters format data (e.g.,
|lower,|date) - Template tags control structure (
if,for,include) - Comments help you document your templates
⚙️ Real-World Relevance:
Django template syntax powers the front-end of Django apps—blogs, dashboards, stores, and portals—without needing JavaScript-heavy setups.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
❓ What’s the difference between {{ }} and {% %}?
✅ {{ }} displays content.
✅ {% %} is used for logic like loops, conditionals, and template directives.
❓ Can I use Python code inside templates?
🚫 No. Templates are limited to logic—not full Python execution. Keep Python in views.
❓ How do I reuse HTML across pages?
✅ Use {% include 'nav.html' %} or extend a base.html.
❓ Can I define my own template tags?
✅ Yes, using custom template tags. Place them in templatetags/ and register with {% load your_tags %}.
❓ How do I escape unsafe HTML in templates?
✅ Django escapes output by default. To allow HTML:
{{ description|safe }}
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