DjangoHow-ToBeginner · 3 min read

How to Create Template in Django: Simple Guide

In Django, create a template by making an HTML file inside a templates folder and then render it in a view using render(). Templates allow you to separate HTML from Python code and display dynamic content.

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Syntax

To create and use a template in Django, follow these steps:

Create an HTML file inside a templates directory in your app or project.
In your view function, use render(request, 'template_name.html', context) to load and display the template.
The context is a dictionary with data you want to show in the template.

python

from django.shortcuts import render

def my_view(request):
    context = {'name': 'Alice'}
    return render(request, 'hello.html', context)

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Example

This example shows how to create a simple template that greets a user by name.

python and html

# In views.py
from django.shortcuts import render

def greet(request):
    context = {'user_name': 'Alice'}
    return render(request, 'greet.html', context)

# In templates/greet.html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <title>Greeting</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Hello, {{ user_name }}!</h1>
</body>
</html>

Output

<h1>Hello, Alice!</h1>

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Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when creating templates in Django include:

Not placing the templates folder in the correct location or not configuring TEMPLATES in settings.py.
Forgetting to pass a context dictionary to the render() function.
Using incorrect template variable syntax (must use double curly braces {{ variable }}).
Not restarting the server after adding new templates (sometimes needed).

python

# Wrong: Missing context
return render(request, 'greet.html')

# Right: Pass context
return render(request, 'greet.html', {'user_name': 'Alice'})

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Quick Reference

Step	Description
Create templates folder	Place HTML files inside a folder named 'templates' in your app or project.
Write HTML with Django tags	Use {{ variable }} to insert dynamic data.
Render template in view	Use render(request, 'template.html', context) to display the template.
Configure settings	Ensure 'DIRS' in TEMPLATES setting includes your templates path if outside app folders.

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Key Takeaways

Create HTML files inside a 'templates' folder to define Django templates.

Use the render() function in views to load templates with dynamic data.

Pass a context dictionary to templates to display variables.

Use {{ variable }} syntax inside templates to show data.

Check template folder location and settings if templates do not load.