Template

Template is a predefined pattern or model used to create new instances that share a common design while allowing variation in data or content. The idea is to separate structure from specificity, so a single template can generate many items by substituting appropriate values.

In documents and forms, templates provide ready-made layouts for letters, reports, invoices, resumes, or forms. They establish consistent formatting and terminology, and can be customized for a particular task by filling in fields or adjusting content.

In software, the term appears in several forms. C++ and other languages implement templates or generics to write code that operates on different data types. The template method is a design pattern that defines the skeleton of an algorithm in a base class while letting subclasses override specific steps.

In web development, template engines combine static markup with dynamic data through placeholders, expressions, or tags. This enables generating pages, emails, or documents from a single template and a data source. Popular examples include templating in content management systems and static site generators.

Beyond software, templates are used in manufacturing, drafting, and 3D modeling as physical or digital guides. They help standardize processes and ensure reproducibility across products and tasks.