EJS vs Mustache: What are the differences?

Key Differences between EJS and Mustache

EJS (Embedded JavaScript) and Mustache are both popular template engines used for rendering dynamic content in web applications. However, there are several key differences between the two:

1. Syntax: EJS uses JavaScript syntax, allowing for more advanced functionality such as conditional statements and loops directly in the template itself. On the other hand, Mustache has a simpler syntax with limited functionality, primarily focused on variable substitution.

2. Partials: EJS supports partials, which are reusable template sections that can be included within other templates. This allows for code reusability and modularization. Mustache, on the other hand, does not have built-in support for partials, although you can achieve similar functionality through external means.

3. Escaping HTML: EJS automatically escapes any HTML content by default, preventing potential security vulnerabilities such as cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. You can still choose to output unescaped HTML in EJS templates when necessary. Mustache, however, does not perform any automatic HTML escaping. It is the responsibility of the developer to ensure that any user-generated content is properly escaped.

4. Template Inheritance: EJS supports template inheritance, which allows for creating a base template with common layout elements that can be extended by child templates. This helps to maintain consistency across multiple pages while reducing code duplication. Mustache does not have native support for template inheritance, although it can be achieved through custom implementations.

5. Custom Logic: With EJS, you can include custom JavaScript logic directly within the template, allowing for more flexibility and control over the rendering process. Mustache, on the other hand, follows a strict separation of concerns principle and encourages moving any logic outside of templates, keeping them purely declarative.

6. Community and Popularity: EJS is a more popular and widely used template engine compared to Mustache, with a larger community and more resources available. Mustache is simpler and more lightweight, making it a good choice for simple projects or when extensibility and advanced functionality are not required.

In Summary, EJS and Mustache differ in their syntax, support for partials and template inheritance, handling of HTML escaping, inclusion of custom logic within templates, and overall popularity within the developer community.