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Handlebars.js vs Jade Language: What are the differences?

Introduction

Handlebars.js and Jade Language are both templating languages often used in web development to dynamically render HTML pages based on data. While they serve a similar purpose, they differ in various aspects. The following are key differences between Handlebars.js and Jade Language.

  1. Syntax: Handlebars.js uses a syntax that closely resembles HTML, using curly braces and double curly braces to indicate expressions and variables, respectively. On the other hand, Jade Language has a more concise and indented syntax that uses significant whitespace and mixins for writing HTML. The syntax of Jade Language may take some time to get used to, especially for developers who are more familiar with traditional HTML syntax used in Handlebars.js.

  2. HTML Output: Handlebars.js produces HTML output that closely matches the structure of the templates, allowing for easier debugging and inspection of the rendered HTML. It maintains a clear separation between HTML and JavaScript, making it easier to read and understand the code. Jade Language, on the other hand, offers a more compact representation of HTML, reducing the number of characters needed and making the templates more concise. However, this can also make the templates harder to read and understand, especially for larger and more complex projects.

  3. Error Reporting: Handlebars.js provides more detailed error reporting, making it easier to identify and debug issues in the templates. It provides line numbers and error messages that highlight the specific problem in the template. Jade Language, on the other hand, sometimes provides less informative error messages, which can make it harder to troubleshoot and fix issues, especially for developers who are new to the language.

  4. Extensibility: Handlebars.js offers a powerful helper system that allows developers to extend the functionality of the templating engine by creating custom helpers. These helpers can be used to perform complex logic and calculations within the templates. Jade Language, on the other hand, does not have a built-in helper system and requires the use of mixins or separate JavaScript functions to perform similar tasks. This can make the code more complex and less intuitive in certain scenarios.

  5. Whitespace Control: Handlebars.js does not have built-in support for controlling whitespace. Whitespace in the templates is preserved and rendered as it is, which can sometimes result in unwanted spacing and indentation in the output HTML. Jade Language, on the other hand, provides built-in whitespace control, allowing developers to control the indentation and spacing in the rendered HTML. This can make the templates more readable and consistent in terms of spacing and indentation.

  6. Template Inheritance: Handlebars.js does not have built-in support for template inheritance. Each template is treated as a standalone unit and cannot inherit or extend from other templates. Jade Language, on the other hand, provides a powerful template inheritance system that allows developers to create reusable layouts and extend them with individual templates. This can greatly improve code reusability and maintainability, especially for larger projects with multiple pages and layouts.

In summary, Handlebars.js and Jade Language differ in their syntax, HTML output, error reporting, extensibility, whitespace control, and template inheritance. These differences make each language suitable for different use cases and preferences of developers.

Advice on Handlebars.js and Jade Language
Asad Gilani
Software Engineer at Lisec Automation · | 5 upvotes · 227.3K views
Needs advice
on
Handlebars.jsHandlebars.js
and
LiquidLiquid

@All: I am searching for the best template engine for .NET. I started looking into several template engines, including the Dotliquid, Handlebars.js, Scriban, and Razorlight. I found handlebar a bit difficult to use when using the loops and condition because you need to register for helper first. DotLiquid and Scriban were easy to use and in Razorlight I did not find the example for loops.

Can you please suggest which template engine is best suited for the use of conditional/list and looping and why? Or if anybody could provide me a resource or link where I can compare which is best?

Thanks In Advance

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Replies (1)
Josh Lind
Recommends
on
Handlebars.jsHandlebars.js

I like Handlebars, it's very mature... some would say-- outdated.

Handlebars loops are done via {{#each myList}}. Read the docs! https://handlebarsjs.com/guide

Remember, don't put logic in your templates! Keep this layer simple. Sorry to hear you have to use dotNet.

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Pros of Handlebars.js
Pros of Jade Language
  • 106
    Simple
  • 76
    Great templating language
  • 50
    Open source
  • 36
    Logicless
  • 20
    Integrates well into any codebase
  • 10
    Easy to create helper methods for complex scenarios
  • 7
    Created by Yehuda Katz
  • 2
    Easy For Fornt End Developers,learn backend
  • 1
    Awesome
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    What is Handlebars.js?

    Handlebars.js is an extension to the Mustache templating language created by Chris Wanstrath. Handlebars.js and Mustache are both logicless templating languages that keep the view and the code separated like we all know they should be.

    What is Jade Language?

    It is a templating engine, primarily used for server-side templating in NodeJS. It allows you to code without the need of tags making coding quicker and cleaner.

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    What companies use Handlebars.js?
    What companies use Jade Language?
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    What tools integrate with Handlebars.js?
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    What are some alternatives to Handlebars.js and Jade Language?
    AngularJS
    AngularJS lets you write client-side web applications as if you had a smarter browser. It lets you use good old HTML (or HAML, Jade and friends!) as your template language and lets you extend HTML’s syntax to express your application’s components clearly and succinctly. It automatically synchronizes data from your UI (view) with your JavaScript objects (model) through 2-way data binding.
    Mustache
    Mustache is a logic-less template syntax. It can be used for HTML, config files, source code - anything. It works by expanding tags in a template using values provided in a hash or object. We call it "logic-less" because there are no if statements, else clauses, or for loops. Instead there are only tags. Some tags are replaced with a value, some nothing, and others a series of values.
    React
    Lots of people use React as the V in MVC. Since React makes no assumptions about the rest of your technology stack, it's easy to try it out on a small feature in an existing project.
    Underscore
    A JavaScript library that provides a whole mess of useful functional programming helpers without extending any built-in objects.
    doT.js
    It is a fastest and concise javascript template engine for Node.js and browsers. It was created in search of the fastest and concise JavaScript templating function with emphasis on performance under V8 and Node.js. It shows great performance for both Node.js and browsers.
    See all alternatives