When building server-side applications with Node.js, rendering dynamic HTML content is a common requirement. While frontend frameworks like React or Vue handle client-side rendering, many developers prefer server-side templating for simplicity, SEO benefits, and faster initial load times. That’s where EJS (Embedded JavaScript Templates) comes in, a lightweight, intuitive templating engine that integrates seamlessly with Express.js.
EJS allows you to embed JavaScript directly into your HTML markup using simple syntax like for output and for logic. This makes it easy to pass data from your Node.js backend to your views and render dynamic content without complex tooling. For example, you can loop through arrays, conditionally display elements, and inject variables, all within standard HTML files.
Setting up EJS in a Node.js project is straightforward. After installing Express and EJS via npm, you configure your app with , and place your templates in a folder. From there, you can use to serve pages and pass data to them.
EJS is especially useful for small to medium-sized applications, admin dashboards, and projects where server-side rendering is preferred. It’s fast, easy to learn, and doesn’t require a build step, making it ideal for rapid development and prototyping.
Whether you’re building a blog, a portfolio site, or a dynamic landing page, Node.js with EJS offers a clean and efficient way to serve dynamic content with minimal overhead
Code to make a server
const express = require(‘express’);
const app = express();
app.set(‘view engine’, ‘ejs’);
app.set(‘views’, ‘./views’); // Optional if using default
app.get(‘/’, (req, res) => {
res.render(‘home’, { name: ‘Trish’ });
});
app.listen(3000, () => console.log(‘Server running on port 3000’));
Why use Node.JS with EJS
- Simple Syntax– EJS uses familiar HTML with embedded JavaScript (), making it easy to learn and use.
- Dynamic Content Rendering– Easily inject backend data (like user info, lists, etc.) into HTML pages.
- Server-Side Rendering (SSR)– Improves SEO and initial page load speed by rendering HTML on the server.
- Fast Setup– Minimal configuration with Express—no need for complex build tools or frontend frameworks.
- Reusable Components– Supports partials for headers, footers, navbars—promotes DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) coding.
- No Build Step– Templates are rendered directly—ideal for rapid development and prototyping.
- Tight Express Integration– Works seamlessly with Express.js, the most popular Node.js web framework.
- Lightweight & Fast– No heavy dependencies or runtime overhead—great for small to medium apps.
- Flexible Data Binding– Pass arrays, objects, and nested data structures to templates with ease.
- Great for Content-Driven Sites– Perfect for blogs, dashboards, portfolios, and admin panels.