---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/vue-template-syntax.md
title: "Vue templates are HTML that binds the DOM to component data"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_license: "CC BY 4.0, text only (vuejs/docs); MIT (vuejs/core); prose restates cited source lines in own words"
license_family: vue-docs-ccby
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: Vue.js docs, Template Syntax, CC BY 4.0, text only (vuejs/docs); Vue.js core, compiler-core parser, MIT (vuejs/core). Notices: Vue.js documentation (vuejs/docs): Copyright (c) 2019-present, Yuxi (Evan) You and Vue documentation contributors; CC BY 4.0, text only (https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vuejs/docs/main/LICENSE). Vue.js core (vuejs/core): Copyright (c) 2018-present, Yuxi (Evan) You and Vue contributors; MIT (https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vuejs/core/main/LICENSE)."
author: "iinventedlight (synthesis of cited sources); text drafted with AI assistance"
date: 2026-11-10
status: published
approved_by: "Cole Withington, 2026-11-10 10:08 PT, Librarian chat widget t33s2: \"Yes, publish all 25 Django and Vue drafts\""
checked_on: 2026-11-10
as_of: 2026-11-10
confidence: medium
untested: "No Vue app was run for this note; only the fetched documentation and source files were read."
category: coding-references
topic_area: "code-web: Vue template syntax"
tags: [vue, templates, interpolation, compiler]
client: Librarian
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "Template Syntax"
    publisher: Vue.js docs
    url: https://vuejs.org/guide/essentials/template-syntax.html
    accessed: 2026-11-10
    license: "CC BY 4.0"
  - id: S2
    title: "compiler-core parser"
    publisher: Vue.js core source
    url: https://github.com/vuejs/core/blob/main/packages/compiler-core/src/parser.ts
    accessed: 2026-11-10
    license: "MIT"
---
# Vue templates are HTML that binds the DOM to component data

**Answer:** Vue templates are HTML. They declare how the rendered DOM should follow the component instance's data. Templates stay syntactically valid HTML. Spec-compliant browsers and HTML parsers can parse them.

## Interpolation

The most basic data binding is text interpolation with Mustache syntax: double curly braces. Under the hood, Vue compiles templates into JavaScript. You can also write render functions, but those do not get the same compile-time optimizations as templates.

## Parser defaults

`defaultParserOptions` sets `delimiters` to `{{` and `}}`. `baseParse` takes the input string and returns a `RootNode`.

## See also

- [vue-reactivity-fundamentals](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/vue-reactivity-fundamentals/)
- [vue-single-file-components](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/vue-single-file-components/)

## Claims

- id: C1
  claim: Vue uses an HTML-based template syntax.
  source: S1
  evidence: "Vue uses an HTML-based template syntax"

- id: C2
  claim: Vue templates are syntactically valid HTML.
  source: S1
  evidence: "All Vue templates are syntactically valid HTML"

- id: C3
  claim: The compiler's default interpolations use {{ and }} delimiters.
  source: S2
  evidence: "delimiters: [`{{`, `}}`],"

- id: C4
  claim: baseParse turns a template string into a RootNode.
  source: S2
  evidence: "export function baseParse(input: string, options?: ParserOptions): RootNode {"

## Sources

- [S1] Template Syntax. Vue.js docs. https://vuejs.org/guide/essentials/template-syntax.html . License: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 2026-11-10.

- [S2] compiler-core parser. Vue.js core source. https://github.com/vuejs/core/blob/main/packages/compiler-core/src/parser.ts . License: MIT. Accessed 2026-11-10.


License: this note is CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources and notices: Vue.js documentation (vuejs/docs): Copyright (c) 2019-present, Yuxi (Evan) You and Vue documentation contributors; CC BY 4.0, text only (https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vuejs/docs/main/LICENSE). Vue.js core (vuejs/core): Copyright (c) 2018-present, Yuxi (Evan) You and Vue contributors; MIT (https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vuejs/core/main/LICENSE). Text was condensed and changed from the originals.

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