Liquid vs Twig: What are the differences?

Introduction

Markdown is a lightweight markup language that is commonly used for formatting text on the web. In this task, we will discuss the key differences between Liquid and Twig, two popular templating languages used in web development. We will format everything as Markdown code that can be used in a website.

1. Variable syntax: Liquid uses double curly braces ({{ }}) to denote variables, whereas Twig uses double curly braces ({{ }}) as well, but with an additional percent sign (%) to denote control structures. This means that Liquid and Twig have slightly different syntax for variables.

2. Control structure syntax: Liquid uses the {% %} syntax to define control structures like loops and conditionals, whereas Twig uses the {% %} syntax as well, but without the additional percent sign. This means that Liquid and Twig have slightly different syntax for defining control structures.

3. Built-in functions and filters: Liquid has a smaller set of built-in functions and filters compared to Twig. Twig provides a wider range of built-in functions and filters that can be used for tasks like string manipulation, date formatting, and more. This means that Twig offers more flexibility and functionality when it comes to manipulating and formatting data.

4. Template inheritance: Twig supports template inheritance, which allows you to create a base template and extend it in child templates, overriding specific blocks as needed. Liquid does not have built-in support for template inheritance, making it less flexible when it comes to structuring and reusing templates.

5. Custom filters and functions: Twig allows developers to create custom filters and functions, enabling them to extend the functionality of the templating engine based on their specific needs. Liquid, on the other hand, does not provide native support for creating custom filters and functions. This means that Twig offers more extensibility and customization options.

6. Syntax nuances: Liquid and Twig have some syntax nuances that differentiate them. For example, Twig uses the not keyword for negation, while Liquid uses the unless keyword. Additionally, Twig provides more advanced features such as macros and namespaces, which are not available in Liquid. These nuances in syntax and additional features contribute to the differences between Liquid and Twig.

In summary, Liquid and Twig differ in terms of variable and control structure syntax, available built-in functions and filters, template inheritance support, custom filter and function capabilities, and syntax nuances.