Description: View rendering in web application development is the process by which HTML is generated from a template and sent as a response to a client request. This process is fundamental in web application development as it allows for the separation of application logic from visual presentation. Various frameworks, including Express.js, facilitate this task by offering support for multiple template engines such as Pug, EJS, and Handlebars. By using these engines, developers can create templates that contain placeholders for dynamic data, allowing for efficient and organized HTML content generation. View rendering not only improves code maintainability but also optimizes application performance by enabling the server to process and deliver pre-rendered content to the client, thereby reducing the load on the browser. Furthermore, this approach is particularly useful in applications that require constant user interaction, as it allows for parts of the interface to be updated without needing to reload the entire page. In summary, view rendering is a key technique that enhances the creation of dynamic and scalable web applications.
History: View rendering in the context of web application development has developed alongside the evolution of JavaScript frameworks and server-side technologies. The practice became prominent in the early 2010s with the rise of frameworks like Express.js, created by TJ Holowaychuk to facilitate web application development with Node.js. Since its introduction, support for multiple template engines has allowed developers to adopt view rendering as a common practice in web application development. As web technology has advanced, view rendering has evolved to meet new needs and design patterns, such as the single-page application (SPA) approach and the use of RESTful APIs.
Uses: View rendering is primarily used in web applications to generate dynamic content that adapts to user requests. It allows developers to create user interfaces that update based on user interaction, displaying real-time data and enhancing the user experience. Additionally, it is common in applications that require a clear and maintainable structure, as it separates business logic from visual presentation. It is also used in creating HTML emails and generating reports and documents that require a specific format.
Examples: An example of view rendering is using EJS to generate a user profile page. Upon receiving a request to view the profile, the server can render an EJS template that includes user data, such as their name and photo, and send the resulting HTML to the browser. Another practical case is generating a PDF report using a Handlebars template, where data is injected into the template and sent as a response to the client.
