Theme and template are two words we frequently encounter in web development. Unfortunately, people often conflate the two and use them interchangeably.
But are theme and template synonyms? Is there any tangible difference between them? Let’s find out.
Here, we look deep into what themes and templates exactly mean. So you will not be confused about when to use which.
What is a Theme?
A theme is what gives structure to your whole website. It is the backbone of any website. A theme defines how your website looks in its entirety. Every component that naturally comes to mind when you think of a website is guided by the theme.
Theme is the blueprint of the functionality of a website. Every aspect of a website, including page layouts, font style, margins, indentation, sidebar positioning, color palette, and typography, is controlled by a theme.
In short, choosing a theme for your website means choosing a comprehensive design.
What is a Template?
A template is a single-page layout, whereas a theme is the total design of a website. In WordPress and similar systems, a template is a theme component.
Contrary to this, in some design systems, a template stands for the whole website design. So, one should be aware of the design system when referring to templates and themes. Otherwise, it would lead to more confusion.
A theme may contain multiple templates for different elements like header, footer, blog post design, landing page design, etc. Templates make a website stand out from others by adding unique custom layouts for each page.
Theme Vs. Template Major Differences
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Some Other Important Terms
1. Dynamic Template
A dynamic template is something that stands between a theme and a template. It comes with pre-coded elements that have a role in the functionality of a website. Though it is somewhat similar to a theme, it cannot be installed independently. Dynamic templates also function within the theme of a website
2. Design Template
Design templates are ready-to-use website designs. It does not define the functionality of a website. Design template, as the name suggests, is only concerned with the design elements of a website.
Summing Up
The meaning of a term varies from system to system. Therefore, what a term signifies is limited to the terminologies of the specific system one refers to. Likewise, the meaning of template and theme is only constant within a system. Therefore, we should always keep the design system of the themes and templates we are referring to.
What is given above are the general differences between a theme and a template. one rule of a system may be an exception for another. Once you know the grammar of a system, there is no room for confusion. So, so understand the design system before everything!