What is the role of a template engine in Python web frameworks?
A template engine separates business logic from presentation, allowing developers to generate dynamic HTML content efficiently. It helps maintain cleaner code and enhances reusability.
Template engines play a vital role in Python web frameworks by separating business logic from presentation, which enhances code maintainability and reusability. In web development, the presentation layer is responsible for how information is displayed to users, while the business logic layer handles the underlying functionality. By utilizing a template engine, developers can generate dynamic HTML content without embedding logic directly in the HTML files. This separation allows for cleaner code and simplifies the process of updating the presentation layer independently from the application logic. Popular template engines in Python include Jinja2, which is used by Flask, and Django’s built-in templating system. These engines allow developers to use variables, control structures, and template inheritance to create flexible and reusable templates. For instance, you can define a base template for your layout and extend it in other templates, reducing redundancy. Additionally, template engines often include features for escaping output to protect against cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. By leveraging template engines, developers can create dynamic web pages that are easy to maintain, promote separation of concerns, and improve overall code quality.