EJS vs Jinja2: What are the differences?

Introduction

EJS (Embedded JavaScript) and Jinja2 are both template engines that allow the generation of dynamic content in web applications. While they serve the same purpose, there are several key differences between them that make each suitable for different scenarios.

1. Syntax: EJS uses a simplified JavaScript syntax that enables developers to directly embed JavaScript code within HTML. On the other hand, Jinja2 uses a special syntax that incorporates Python-like syntax with tags such as {% ... %} and {{ ... }} for control flow and variable rendering respectively.

2. Language Support: One significant difference between EJS and Jinja2 is the programming language they are associated with. EJS is commonly used with JavaScript, while Jinja2 is commonly used with Python.

3. Extensibility: EJS provides a simple interface for extending its functionality by creating custom tags, filters, or layouts. Jinja2, on the other hand, offers a more advanced extension system that allows developers to create custom template tags, filters, and even custom template loaders.

4. Strictness: EJS is more forgiving in terms of syntax errors and allows developers to write invalid JavaScript code without raising any errors. Jinja2, on the other hand, is stricter and will raise syntax errors if invalid Jinja2 tags or expressions are encountered.

5. Popularity and Community: EJS and Jinja2 have different levels of popularity and community support. EJS is widely used in the JavaScript community, especially in conjunction with Node.js, whereas Jinja2 is popular in the Python community and is often used with web frameworks like Flask and Django.

6. Template Inheritance: Jinja2 provides built-in template inheritance, where a base template can be extended and its blocks overridden by child templates. EJS does not have built-in template inheritance capabilities, although it can be achieved by incorporating external tools or libraries.

In summary, EJS and Jinja2 differ in their syntax, language support, extensibility, strictness, popularity, and template inheritance capabilities. Developers should choose the template engine based on their familiarity with the associated programming language and the specific requirements of their web application.