Apache FreeMarker vs Thymeleaf: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will discuss the key differences between Apache FreeMarker and Thymeleaf, two popular template engines used for web development.

1. Syntax: Apache FreeMarker uses a syntax similar to HTML, with template files having the '.ftl' extension. On the other hand, Thymeleaf uses a syntax that is closer to XML, with template files having the '.html' extension. This syntax difference makes the code more readable and easier to understand for developers who are familiar with HTML or XML.

2. Integration: FreeMarker can be integrated with multiple programming languages such as Java, JavaScript, and Python. It provides libraries and APIs to facilitate integration with these languages. Thymeleaf, on the other hand, is mainly designed for Java-based web applications and provides seamless integration with the Spring Framework.

3. Processing: FreeMarker templates are processed server-side, meaning that the processing of these templates occurs on the server before the resulting HTML is sent to the client's browser. Thymeleaf templates, on the other hand, can be processed both server-side and client-side, allowing for dynamic updating of the page without a full page reload.

4. Error Handling: FreeMarker provides detailed error messages and stack traces when an error occurs, making it easier to debug and identify issues in the templates. Thymeleaf also provides error messages, but they may not be as detailed as FreeMarker in some cases.

5. Extensibility: FreeMarker allows developers to create custom directives and functions, which can be used to extend the functionality of the template engine. Thymeleaf, on the other hand, provides a rich set of built-in tags and attributes that cover most common use cases, but it may require more effort to implement custom functionality.

6. Community and Documentation: FreeMarker has been around for a longer time and has a larger community, resulting in extensive documentation, tutorials, and resources available online. Thymeleaf, although gaining popularity, may have a comparatively smaller community and slightly fewer resources available.

In summary, Apache FreeMarker and Thymeleaf differ in their syntax, integration capabilities, processing approaches, error handling, extensibility options, and community support.