# Template rendering using Jinja2
Template rendering is useful for building web pages, dashboards, or hybrid applications where HTML is generated on the server.
## Configuring Templates
Before rendering templates, configure the template directory using `configure_templates()`:
```python
from slush.app import Slush
app = Slush()
app.configure_templates("./templates")
```
The provided path should point to the directory containing your template files.
## Basic Usage
Create a template file:
```
templates/index.html
```
Example template:
```html
{{ title }}
Hello {{ name }}
```
Render the template in a route:
```python
@app.route("/", methods=["GET"])
def home(request):
return app.render_template("index.html", {
"title": "Home Page",
"name": "Faraz"
})
```
## Passing Data to Templates
Template variables are passed as a dictionary:
```python
return app.render_template("index.html", {
"title": "Dashboard",
"user": "Faraz"
})
```
Inside the template:
```html
Welcome {{ user }}
```
## Using Static Files with Templates
Templates can reference static assets using the configured static path:
```html
```
Make sure static files are mounted:
```python
app.mount_static("/static", "./static")
```
## Template Not Found
If the specified template does not exist, Slush returns a `500` response indicating the missing template.
Example:
```python
return app.render_template("missing.html", {})
```
## Rendering HTML Responses
Rendered templates are returned as HTML responses with the correct content type automatically set.
## Example Project Structure
```
project/
├── main.py
├── templates/
│ └── index.html
├── static/
│ └── style.css
```
## When to Use Templates
Use template rendering when:
* Building server-rendered web pages
* Creating dashboards or admin interfaces
* Combining backend logic with HTML output
For API-only applications, returning JSON responses may be sufficient.
## Summary
Template rendering in Slush allows you to:
* Generate dynamic HTML using Jinja2
* Pass data from routes into templates
* Integrate static assets easily
* Build full web interfaces alongside APIs
---
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