Liquid vs Nunjucks: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this markdown code, we will discuss the key differences between Liquid and Nunjucks templating languages, highlighting the specific distinctions between the two.

1. Syntax:

Liquid uses a simple and intuitive syntax that is easy to read and write, with tags and filters enclosed in double curly braces. On the other hand, Nunjucks employs a more complex syntax, providing flexibility by allowing using delimiters and tags enclosed within its own syntax.

2. Template Inheritance:

Liquid lacks native support for template inheritance, making it less suitable for complex layouts with multiple levels of inheritance. In contrast, Nunjucks provides native and robust support for template inheritance, allowing for a more modular and organized approach to building layouts.

3. Custom Filters:

While both Liquid and Nunjucks allow the use of filters to modify and format data, Nunjucks provides more extensive and flexible support for creating custom filters. With Nunjucks, developers can easily define and use custom filters to manipulate data according to their specific requirements.

4. JavaScript-based:

Nunjucks, being inspired by Jinja2, is primarily JavaScript-based and is often used in JavaScript environments like Node.js. Whereas Liquid is primarily used in Ruby environments like Jekyll, making it more suited for Ruby developers.

5. Performance and Caching:

Due to its simpler syntax and design, Liquid generally performs better and is easier to cache compared to Nunjucks. Nunjucks, being more feature-rich and extensible, may require additional resources and overhead for rendering, impacting performance in larger-scale applications.

6. Compatibility:

Liquid is widely supported across various platforms and frameworks, including Jekyll, Shopify, and GitHub Pages. In contrast, while Nunjucks is gaining popularity, it may require additional configuration and integration in some platforms, limiting its compatibility to certain frameworks and environments.

In Summary, Liquid and Nunjucks differ in syntax simplicity, template inheritance support, custom filter flexibility, language association, performance and caching characteristics, as well as platform compatibility.