Template development

Templates are what give your TYPO3 website its look and feel. You decide how your content is displayed on the front page. Let's go through a simple way to get you started with TYPO3 template development.

What is a TYPO3 template?

In TYPO3, a template is a collection of files that defines how your website looks. It includes the layout, design and placement of elements such as headers, footers and content areas. Essentially, templates help transform your ideas into a visually appealing website.

How to develop a TYPO3 template

1. Set up your TYPO3 environment
   • Before you start developing templates, make sure TYPO3 is installed on your server and ready to use. You will need access to the TYPO3 backend where you can manage the content and templates of your website.
2. Create a new template
   • Go to the template module: In the TYPO3 backend, find the "Template" module in the page tree.
   • Add a template record: Select the root page of your website, click on "Create new record" and select "Template". This creates a new template record in which you define your template settings.

3. Set up your template files

   TYPO3 uses TypoScript to manage template settings. TypoScript is a configuration language that is used to customize the look and behavior of your website.

   • Create template files: You need to create a template file (usually with the extension .html) and a TypoScript setup file. These files define the layout and settings of your website.
   • Link your files: In the template record you have created, link your template files in the "Includes" section. This tells TYPO3 where it can find your template files.
4. Design your template
   • HTML structure: Start by designing the HTML structure of your template. This includes creating the header, footer and main content area. Use HTML and CSS to define how your website should look.
   • Add TypoScript: Use TypoScript to control various aspects of the layout of your website. For example, you can specify where content should be displayed, how it should be styled and which parts of the template should be dynamic.
5. Test your template
   • Preview your website: After you have set up your template, preview your website to check how it looks. Check that all elements are displayed correctly and that the design meets your expectations.
   • Make adjustments: Based on your preview, you may need to adjust your HTML, CSS or TypoScript settings to get everything just right.

6. Implement dynamic content

   TYPO3 allows you to display dynamic content through your template. This means that you can create placeholders in your template that are filled with actual content from the TYPO3 backend. This is done with TypoScript and Fluid, TYPO3's template engine.

   • Fluid Templating: Fluid is a powerful template engine used in TYPO3. It allows you to create templates that contain dynamic content and logic. You use Fluid tags and variables to integrate content from the TYPO3 database into your template.
7. Maintain and update your template
   • Once your template is live, you may need to make updates and improvements. Regularly check for changes in design trends or updates to TYPO3 that may affect your template. Keep your template up to date to ensure it continues to meet your needs and looks good on all devices.

Conclusion

TYPO3 template development may seem complex at first, but if you break it down into manageable steps, it becomes much easier. Start by setting up your environment, creating and linking your template files and designing and testing your template. With practice, you can create beautiful and functional templates for any TYPO3 website.