EJS vs Jade Language: What are the differences?

Introduction

In web development, the choice of templating languages is crucial for creating dynamic and reusable components. Two popular templating languages are EJS and Jade (now Pug), each with its own set of features and functionality. This markdown code will provide a comparison of the key differences between EJS and Jade/Pug, highlighting their unique characteristics.

1. Syntax: One of the major differences between EJS and Jade/Pug lies in their syntax. EJS follows an HTML-like syntax, allowing developers to embed JavaScript code within the HTML markup using tags. On the other hand, Jade/Pug utilizes indentation-based syntax along with significant white spaces, resulting in a more concise and elegant code structure.

2. Tag Usage: EJS uses more HTML-like tags for controlling logic and rendering dynamic data. These tags include <%= %> for outputting variables, <% %> for executing JavaScript code, and <%- %> for unescaped output. In contrast, Jade/Pug uses a combination of indentation, colons, and parentheses to define control flow structures and output variables. This results in a more compact and readable code.

3. Whitespace Handling: EJS treats whitespace as significant and replicates it in the output, whereas Jade/Pug ignores most of the whitespace and automatically manages indentation. This can be advantageous in cases where clean and consistent indentation is desired, making Jade/Pug a preferred choice for developers who prioritize code readability.

4. File Extension: Another distinction lies in the file extensions used for the templates. EJS templates typically have the .ejs extension, reflecting its association with the JavaScript ecosystem. Meanwhile, Jade was rebranded as Pug, and templates written in this language commonly use the .pug extension. This renaming was done to align the language with the philosophy of simplicity and accessibility.

5. Function Calls: EJS allows the direct execution of JavaScript functions within its code blocks, providing more flexibility to the developers. Jade/Pug, on the other hand, strictly separates logic from the view layer and discourages direct function calls within the templates. This separation of concerns promotes better structuring and maintainability of the codebase.

6. Whitespace Control: EJS provides explicit control over whitespace handling through the <%- %> tag, allowing developers to include or remove line breaks and spaces as needed. Jade/Pug, on the contrary, automatically manages whitespace based on its indentation rules, which can be advantageous in cases where consistent and minimalistic output is desirable.

In summary, EJS and Jade/Pug differ in syntax, tag usage, whitespace handling, file extensions, function calls, and whitespace control. These differences cater to different developer preferences, with EJS leaning towards a more HTML-like approach and Jade/Pug focusing on simplicity and elegant code structure.