# Template formatter

> Register reusable Smart String templates and apply them by name.

Register reusable Smart String templates and apply them by name.

The Template formatter stores named templates so you can reuse a piece of formatting across many Smart Strings. When the formatting needs to change, you edit the template in one place. Apply it explicitly with the name `t`.

{ /*  Mermaid source kept for the future doc platform; shown as the static image below until mermaid rendering is supported.  */ }

```mermaid
flowchart TD
    full["{value:t(templateName)}"]

    full --> p1["value"]
    full --> p2["t"]
    full --> p3["templateName"]

    p1 --> d1["Any value"]
    p2 --> d2["Formatter name: t"]
    p3 --> d3["Name of a registered<br/>template"]

    classDef code   fill:#F5F5F5,stroke:#BDBDBD,color:#111;
    classDef orange fill:none,stroke:none,color:#F37021;
    classDef green  fill:none,stroke:none,color:#67BC6B;
    classDef pink   fill:none,stroke:none,color:#EB417A;

    class full code;
    class p1,d1 orange;
    class p2,d2 green;
    class p3,d3 pink;

    linkStyle default stroke:#2196F3,stroke-width:1.5px;
```


**Anatomy of the template (t) formatter syntax.:**
![](/api/media?file=/engine/6000.7/media/images/smart-strings-template-formatter.svg)

Template names are matched using the formatter's case sensitivity setting. By default, matching is case-insensitive.

Register the templates you create and add them to the formatter so they can be used. The Template formatter can't auto-detect, so you must always apply it by name. Applying an unregistered template name throws a `FormatException`. Refer to [Configure Smart Strings](/engine/6000.7/manual/scripting/smart-strings/configure.md) for more information on adding to the formatter.

The following example shows how to register templates on the formatter and then add the formatter to a [`SmartFormatter`](/engine/6000.7/script-reference/unity/smartstrings/smartformatter.md):

```cs
var templates = new TemplateFormatter();
            templates.Register("fullName", "{name} {surname}");
            templates.Register("initials", "{name:substr(0,1)} {surname:substr(0,1)}");
            templates.Register("highlight", "<color=red>{}</color>");

            Smart.Default.AddExtensions(templates);
```

Pass the template name as a formatter option, `{0:t(fullName)}`, or as the format part, `{0:t:fullName}`. Both are equivalent.

To reference the current value in scope inside a template, use an empty placeholder `{}`, as in the `highlight` template in the table below.

Templates can be nested: a template can apply another template, for example `{:t:FIRST} {:t:last}`.

| Smart String                          | Argument                             | Result                                  |
| ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------- |
| `The initials are {0:t(initials)}`    | `name = "Lara"`, `surname = "Croft"` | The initials are L C                    |
| `Hello {0:t(fullName)}`               | `name = "Lara"`, `surname = "Croft"` | Hello Lara Croft                        |
| `The name is {name:t(highlight)}.`    | `name = "Lara"`                      | The name is \<color=red>Lara\</color>.  |
| `The name is {surname:t(highlight)}.` | `surname = "Croft"`                  | The name is \<color=red>Croft\</color>. |

## Additional resources

* [Sub String formatter](/engine/6000.7/manual/scripting/smart-strings/formatters/substring-formatter.md)
* [Create a custom formatter](/engine/6000.7/manual/scripting/smart-strings/formatters/create-a-custom-formatter.md)
* [Smart Strings](/engine/6000.7/manual/scripting/smart-strings.md)